HSE Construction Infonet sample e-bulletin
Construction Infonet is a FREE e-Bulletin for construction clients, designers, contractors and safety specialists.
CONSTRUCTION INFONET - OCTOBER 2009
Welcome to the latest edition of Construction Infonet.
Construction Infonet is a free e-Bulletin from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to provide a regular update on health and safety issues for all in the construction industry.
1. ++ ASBESTOS HIDDEN KILLER CAMPAIGN++
HSE is launching it's Hidden Killer campaign on 2 November 2009. Every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related disease. If you carry out work on a building that was built or refurbished before the year 2000, you could have been exposed to asbestos, without even knowing it. Asbestos is a hidden killer. So now's the time to get clued up on the facts, so that you, your workmates, your friends and family are protected.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/index.htm
2. ++ INFORMATION FOR ROMANIAN, POLISH, INDIAN AND OTHER MIGRANT CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ++
A campaign has been launched to inform Romanian, Polish and Indian construction workers based in London about on-site health and safety. If you employ or work with colleagues form these countries let them know how to find out more.
Contact HSE by calling one of these Helpline numbers (English also spoken):
020 7556 2181 - Gujarati
020 7556 2206 - Hindi
020 7556 2294 - Punjabi
020 7556 2239 - Polish
020 7556 2200 - Romanian
Please note: All calls made to these numbers are confidential and you do not have to give your name if you don't want to.
Alternatively you can email us at: outreach@hse.gsi.gov.uk
Visit the dedicated website - http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/languages/index.htm
3. ++ CONIAC OPEN MEETING - 17 NOVEMBER 2009 ++
HSE's Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) will be holding an open meeting on Tuesday 17 November in London. If you would like to attend the meeting please follow the link below to register your interest. Please note, seats are limited in number.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/iacs/coniac/open/open.htm
4. ++ RECENT ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY ++
Read details of some recent HSE prosecutions and enforcement action in the construction sector and find sources of relevant advice.
Work at height
Work at Height remains the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the main causes of major injury.
29 September 2009 - HSE warns of the dangers of working on fragile roofs, following the conviction of a Lancashire-based company and a director for breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The warning follows a serious incident in which Mr Lucasz Czuba, 26, of Longbenton, Newcastle fell seven metres whilst carrying out refurbishment work on the roof of a building at "Shoe City", Sands Lane Industrial Estate, Gateshead in July 2007. During the course of the work, Mr Czuba stepped onto an unprotected fragile plastic rooflight which gave way and he fell seven metres to the warehouse floor, sustaining serious injuries.
Webber Trading Ltd, of Burnley, was fined £6,000 after pleading guilty to charges under section 3(1) and section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was also ordered to pay £2,838.20 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
Jeffrey Robinson, director of Webber Trading Ltd, who was present on the roof directing the work at the time of the incident, was fined £1,000 after pleading guilty to charges under section 3(1) and section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was also ordered to pay £200 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coine33509.htm
9 October 2009 - A safety warning has been issued to construction companies after a Liverpool worker was seriously injured in a fall from unstable scaffolding.
HSE prosecuted John Doyle Construction Ltd following the incident at the Hilton Hotel construction site in Liverpool City Centre in July 2007. The court heard that employees were moving a scaffolding tower on the site when it overturned and fell down an embankment.
Employee Gerard Baccino was removing lifting chains from the top of the scaffolding, and fell approximately six metres to the ground when it toppled over. Mr Baccino, a 49-year-old father of three, suffered back injuries in the fall and fractured his pelvis and chest. The incident has had a long-term psychological effect on him, and he has been unable to return to work.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(b) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay costs of £13,244
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coinw03309.htm
16 October 2009 - HSE is urging employers to ensure their workers are protected when working at height after a man fell from the first floor of a building he was working on, suffering life-threatening injuries.
The man was using a power saw at Barnfields Industrial Estate in Leek, Staffordshire, when he fell through the side of the building to the ground on 30 October 2008. An investigation showed the walls of the building had been removed and there was an inadequately positioned steel girder around the sides.
G Baskerville Ltd, of Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,000.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coiwm35809.htm
22 October 2009 - A Norwich employer has been fined £7,500 after one of his workers broke his spine in a fall at the former RAF Watton site in Norfolk.
HSE prosecuted Tim Philpott, trading as Philpott Demolition and Recycling, of Long Stratton, Norwich, for his role in the incident on 20 April 2007. Mr Philpott pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 between 21 March 2007 and 9 May 2007.
The court heard that Gediminas Vasiliauskas was removing old roof tiles and timber from a former aircraft hangar at the site when the incident happened. Mr Vasiliauskas broke his spine in the incident and had to have a metal disk inserted into his back. He was unable to work for a year following the incident and during that time he also lost his sense of taste and smell.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coie25.htm
Further information
Working at height - http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm
HSE Shattered Lives campaign - http://www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/construction/index.htm
Roofwork - http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/roof.htm
Refurbishment - http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/tripsandfalls/height
Electricity at work
15 October 2009 - HSE is warning builders to be careful when working near overhead power cables after a scaffolder was seriously injured on a site in Worcestershire.
The court heard how three workers arrived at the site at Callow Hill Lane, Redditch to dismantle scaffolding. Ian Maxwell, 39, from Redditch, was removing a 6 metre guard rail, 4 metres above the ground, when it made contact with the 66,000 volt overhead cable. He suffered burns to 52 per cent of his body and had to have his heart re-started.
Three separate charges were laid in relation to the incident on 12 November 2007. Manor Homes (Midlands) Ltd, based in Redditch, Worcestershire pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £11,985 and ordered to pay £3,000 costs.
G. Wright Scaffolding Ltd, Redditch, was fined £5,985 and ordered to pay £1,500 costs after pleading guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The Director of G. Wright Scaffolding Ltd, Gary Wright of Redditch, was also fined £5,985 and ordered to pay £1,500 in costs after pleading guilty to section 2(1) by virtue of section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coiwm40809.htm
22 October 2009 - A Grangemouth-based company has been fined for breaching health and safety law after a worker was burned by live power cables.
HSE prosecuted refinery and petrochemical company Ineos Manufacturing Scotland Ltd for failing to ensure a safe system of work was in place before undertaking excavation work near live electrical cables.
A subcontractor needed hospital treatment for burns to his hands and face after he struck two live 3,300-volt cables with a powered breaking tool known as a Jackhammer on 3 November 2006. The subcontractor and his colleagues were widening an existing cable trench containing several live electrical cables at the time of the incident.
Ineos Manufacturing Scotland Ltd of Grangemouth, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 4(3) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and was fined £1500 at Falkirk Sheriff Court on 20 October.
Further information
Working near electricity - http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/nearelectric.htm
Excavations and underground services http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/information/excavations.htm
Asbestos
7 October 2009 - Two companies have been prosecuted after workers and members of the public were exposed to unacceptable levels of asbestos during a removal project.
On 29 November 2005, Noble Gift Packaging Ltd contracted A & T Roofing Ltd to remove the roof from a building on Lockfield Avenue. The roof was lined with 3,000 square meters of asbestos insulating board that contained Amosite (brown asbestos fibres), which requires removal in highly controlled conditions by licensed asbestos contractors. A & T Roofing Ltd employees spent 12 weeks removing and smashing the boards before sweeping the dust and debris into bags. The workers were not provided with effective protection, even after the company found out that the material being cleared contained Amosite. Workers at the site were exposed to potentially deadly fibres. These were carried on their clothes and into their homes, vehicles, onto public transport, and may have contaminated the general public and their own families.
A & T Roofing Ltd, of 191 Bowes Road, Enfield, pleaded guilty to Regulation 3(1) of the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983, and Sections 2(1) and 3(1) Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £25,000 and were ordered to pay costs of £33,844.30.
Noble Gift Packaging Ltd, of 73 Lockfield Avenue, Enfield, pleaded guilty to Section 3(1) Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were fined £40,000 and were ordered to pay costs of £19,223.65.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coildn0710.htm
Further Information
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/index.htm
5. ++ GAS SAFE REGISTER ++
Gas and cowboys don't mix TV advert. Illegal gas workers put your life at risk, Watch the new Gas Safe Register TV advert and spread the word that 'gas and cowboys don't mix'.
Watch the new Gas Safe Register - TV advert
http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/gas-cowboys.htm
6. ++ NEW PUBLICATIONS/GUIDANCE - AUGUST 2009 ++
Try the new HSE Books website - HSE priced publications free to download
http://books.hse.gov.uk/hse/public/home.jsf
Free Leaflet - INDG 435 - Skin cancer caused by pitch and tar
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg435.pdf
Risk management - new template assessment and policy statement
Try the free example assessment and policy statement
http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm
HSE Newsletter - October/November 2009
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/newsletter.htm
Consultation alerts - Receive the latest updates on consultations for free from HSE, via email, SMS text alerts (trial service), sign up today.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/alerts.htm
7. ++ WORKING WELL TOGETHER (WWT) - REGIONAL EVENTS
The WWT campaign runs 30- 40 events across England, Scotland and Wales every year. Most of the events are free to attend and we usually feed you too!
The Working Well Together website has been re-designed making it even easier to find out what's going on.
Visit the WWT website to see what's happening in your area.
8. ++ SWINE FLU ++
Current HSE guidance for employers and employees
http://www.hse.gov.uk/news/2009/swineflu.htm
KEEP UP TO DATE
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/infonet.htm
CONTACT HSE
Infoline - Health and safety information and advice: Call 0845 345 0055 or visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/index.htm
Report an accident: Call 0845 300 9923 or visit:http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm
FEEDBACK
We issue e-Bulletins on a regular basis and would welcome your feedback and views as well as any suggestions/contributions for future articles.
Thank you to those who have provided feedback on the previous editions - we have tried to incorporate as many of the suggestions as possible.
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