Inspectors to safety check small construction sites across London

Date:

8 November 2010

Release No:

COILDN/0811

Small construction sites across London boroughs are being targeted by inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), with work on some sites already being ordered to stop in a bid to reduce death and injury in one of the most dangerous industries.

Close to one in four of the 150 small construction sites involving roof work, extensions to domestic properties and properties undergoing refurbishment that have been visited so far have had prohibition notices served on them. These stop some or all of the site activities because of an immediate risk to workers.

HSE figures show there have been 59 fatalities in London between 2004/2005 and 2009/2010, 30 being deaths from falls. Over 70% of the deaths caused by a fall occurred on small sites.

Over the next few weeks inspectors will visit sites in Brent, Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Newham, Redbridge, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Lewisham, Bromley, Richmond and Wandsworth.

Inspectors will concentrate on how sites are managing roof repair, working at height and manual handling, as well as the welfare facilities for workers. Inspectors prefer to offer advice but will take enforcement action to stop unsafe work and ensure any essential improvements are made.

Andrew Beal, HSE Principal Inspector says:

"Each year too many construction workers are needlessly injured or killed while working on site. Finding such poor work practices that we had to issues prohibition notices on nearly one in four sites is unacceptable, especially when many of the incidents are completely avoidable by taking commonsense actions and precautions."

Inspectors saw several examples of well run small sites, but on others they were disappointed at the level of ignorance about basic health and safety standards. Simple guidance for busy builders is available on the HSE's website.

The initiative continues and inspectors will focus on the basic steps needed to protect workers and members of the public. Enforcement action will continue to be taken where necessary to protect those who are at risk, or to make sure decent welfare arrangements are provided.

Notes to editors

1. HSE Inspector Andrew Beal is available for interview.
2. Between 2004/05 and 2009/10 of the 30 deaths caused by a fall, 22 were on small sites.
3. Further information about working at height can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm
4. Please see below for pan-London breakdown of sites visited up to 22/10/10 under small sites initiative, with information on Prohibition Notices served and Improvement Notices served.
   
   

   Borough	No. of Sites Visited	Prohibition Notices Served	Improvement Notices Served
   Brent/Westminster	28	9	9
   Kensington & Chelsea	19	8	3
   Newham	9	4	1
   Redbridge	2	0	0
   Camden	5	1	0
   Enfield	3	1	0
   Haringey	29	8	4
   Lewisham	14	0	0
   Bromley	4	3	0
   Richmond	26	3	4
   Wandsworth	20	1	2

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Issued on behalf of the HSE by COI News and PR (London & South East)