HSE praises health and safety in Norfolk and Suffolk

Inspectors visited Norwich, Dereham, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft

Date:

20 March 2009

Release No:

HSE/E/151:09

Health and safety standards on construction sites in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have been praised following a series of visits by inspectors from the HSE.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out a week of targeted inspections earlier in March as part of its Shattered Lives and Hidden Killer campaigns - and the results showed a big improvement since the last round of visits in 2008.

Inspectors targeted 11 locations in Norwich, 14 in Great Yarmouth and another 9 in Lowestoft, visiting sites where refurbishment, repair and maintenance projects were taking place. The main issues being looked at were working at height, good site order and the risks associated with the removal of asbestos.

Inspectors issued three Prohibition Notices during the week, which order work to stop until a problem was been resolved to the HSE's satisfaction. The first two notices were issued to one site visited in Dereham for unsafe practices when working at height. The third notice was served to prevent employees falling through a fragile roof or from the edge of the roof on a site in Oulton Broads, near Lowestoft.

Inspectors also targeted 15 similar sites in Southend and another 12 in Rayleigh. Two Prohibition Notices, which order work to stop until a problem has been resolved to the HSE's satisfaction, were issued during the week. By comparison, during the last visit one in three sites received a notice.

Nicola Surrey, HSE Principal Inspector for Construction in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, said:

"It is very encouraging to see health and safety standards rising in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. There were big improvements and in most cases health and safety was being properly addressed.

"But we must not become complacent. Construction sites are dangerous places to work and it is important health and safety is properly addressed at all times. There were two sites with serious health and safety issues and any serious risk to the workforce is unacceptable.

"While workers in the refurbishment sector continue to be injured and killed, as we stated before our last inspection initiative, HSE will continue to target the contractors and principal contractors on those sites who flout health and safety law and come down hard on them where necessary."

Last year (2007/08) more than half (52%) of the workers who died on construction sites worked in refurbishment, repair and maintenance, in line with a similar shocking statistic the previous year (2006/07). The HSE aims to inspect 1500 refurbishment sites across Great Britain throughout March, to tackle poor health and safety standards.

During the inspection initiative, HSE inspectors looked at whether:

• Jobs that involve working at height have been identified and properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions are in place
• Equipment is correctly installed / assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly
• Sites are well organised, to avoid trips and falls
• Walkways and stairs are free from obstructions
• Work areas are clear of unnecessary materials and waste
• The risks associated with asbestos removal are managed correctly and carried out in accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006
• The work force is made aware of risk control measures

More information is available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/construction/index.htm and http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm

Notes to editors

• For the latest HSE statistics visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm
• An ISDN Line is available for Radio interviews.
• For more information on HSE's Shattered Lives campaign visit: http://www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/index.htm
• For more information on previous inspection initiatives in February 2008 and Summer 2007 visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/tripsandfalls/update.htm#feb08 . Previous inspection initiatives include the Watch Your Step initiative in 2006 at http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/falls.htm and the Fit Out Campaign in 2005 at http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/falls.htm
• The initiative is enforcement-led with considerable effort being made to seek out poor performance - it is not a random sampling exercise.
• Reducing the number of injuries and deaths from trips and falls is a priority for HSE to help the construction industry meet its accident targets by 2010.
• Nicola Surrey & other construction industry specialists will be available for interview upon request.
• HSE launched a campaign on 23 February 2009 aimed at increasing awareness of the health and safety responsibilities faced by those involved in developing property as part of their business. For more information visit www.hse.gov.uk/property

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