Refurb projects remain recalcitrant on risk
The annual HSE ‘crackdown’ on construction refurb projects took place between 18 February 2013 and 15 March 2013 when inspectors made unannounced visits to check that:
- Work at height – and other high-risk activities were being managed properly;
- Housekeeping – good standards of order were maintained;
- Personal protective equipment – PPE was provided and used effectively; and
- Welfare – the standard of welfare facilities was sufficient.
During the month long initiative inspectors carried out the following visits and actions:
- Visits – total of 2363 sites where refurbishment or repair work was taking place;
- Contractors – engaged with 2976 contractors;
- Enforcement – issued 631 enforcement notices across 433 sites for ‘poor practices’;
- Prohibition – issued 451 notices ordering that work stop immediately until the situation was put right.
Nearly one in five of the construction sites visited across Britain were subject to enforcement action after failing the safety checks. HSE has published a number of images show poor standards and action taken to put matters right.
The outgoing HSE Chief Inspector of Construction Philip White commented on the findings:
“This initiative has once again shown us that the majority of construction employers do take their responsibilities to their workers seriously.
However, our inspectors also encountered numerous examples of poor practice, from lack of edge protection on stairwells and scaffolding to unsafe storage of flammable materials and inadequate personal protective equipment. None of these are acceptable on a modern construction site.
HSE will not hesitate to use its enforcement powers against reckless employers. It is they who continue to make construction one of the most dangerous industries in which to work.”