Safer sites initiative 2013 - image gallery
Photographs taken by Inspectors undertaking unannounced 'spot checks' on repair and refurbishment works during the first few weeks of the Construction Initiative 2013/14.
Scaffolding
Inspectors intervened immediately when they saw this appalling scaffold set-up.
Access to the roof inherently dangerous with missing guard-rails, toe boards and scaffold boards, nothing tied in anywhere.
Basic improvements
Some basic but very effective improvements were made after Inspectors visited this site…potentially fragile roof lights were removed and boarded over to allow the roof work to proceed safely
Fire safety
As this was a large building, one fire claxon and extinguisher was not sufficient. So a temporary replacement was installed with fire points on each floor.
Falls
An exposed lift shaft presents an extreme high risk
Inspectors took immediate enforcement action on finding this exposed lift shaft on one site. Prohibition notice served, falls risk extremely high.
A prohibition noticed served on this extension work shown below, was inspected during a unannounced spot-check – exposed scaffolding was found, putting workers at risk from falling through on to the building works.
Site order
Power supply - Improvement notice served here as site management fell below safe standards
Unsafe excavation work, Prohibition Notice served for poor order across the whole site
Trailing cables - Wires left trailing down the stairs present an obvious trip hazard
No segregation - refurbishment work right next to pavement, without segregation
Working at height
Edge protection - dry cutting of tiles without edge protection
Unsecured machinery used at height with no edge protection in place
Good practice
Wood dust - example of good practice
Scaffolding - Good practice is demonstrated above by a sole trader in that scaffolding is used to gain access to the chimney stack for repointing work.
Control of dust – Wood-working machines with automatic start extraction and dust collection bag on planer.
Welfare
On site welfare is important to protect workers health – here are some examples where facilities were found to be below standard.
Basic facilities - were somewhat wanting on this site
Washing - access to water was severly limited on this site
Facilities were particularly poor at the site above – an Information Notice was served for lack of hot water, no lighting or means of drying hands and lack of general cleanliness