Building site dangers highlighted in safety checks

Date:

12 October 2012

Release No:

YH/187/12

Work at six building sites in the Bradford area was halted immediately during an inspection initiative focusing on the construction industry by the Health and Safety Executive.

A total of 61 sites were inspected across West and South Yorkshire during first three weeks of September and while the majority were found to be managing health and safety appropriately, work was stopped on six small construction sites in Bradford district.

HSE inspectors served three Prohibition Notices after witnessing how workers were being put at risk because of poorly planned and inadequate use of working platforms and scaffolding. The other three were served for other safety-related matters.

The inspection campaign was in response to the continued loss of life and serious injury arising from falls from height. In the last year (up to April 2012), 49 workers lost their lives on construction sites in the UK, with falls from height being the most common cause of fatal injuries.

David Stewart, HSE's Principal Inspector for construction in the Yorkshire region, said:

"Whilst the initiative was primarily to raise awareness of the problem of unsafe working practices, it is of concern that work at height was being undertaken in a dangerous manner on three sites.

"Straightforward practical precautions are well known in the industry. Safe access equipment is readily available for purchase or hire and there is no excuse for workers, and the self employed, to put themselves in a position of danger when working at height.

"There was a marginal, though still welcome, improvement for this inspection activity on previous ones in terms of the ratio of good to poor performances but there is no reason to be complacent.

"HSE will continue to maintain a strong enforcement profile where there is blatant disregard to safe working practice.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Further information on safe working in construction can be found online at http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm.htm

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