HSE Reveals Results Of Recent Inspection Campaign

Around half of construction sites inspected as part of a safety drive by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were found to be affected by poor standards and dangerous practices, the organisation has revealed.

In a month-long inspection campaign, the HSE found safety standards were not being met on 1,105 or 2,607 construction sites where refurbishment and repair work was taking place.

It also revealed that safety on 644 sites was so poor that enforcement action needed to be taken to protect workers. The main issues identified included safety failings related to work at height, exposure to harmful dust and a lack of adequate welfare facilities.

Heather Bryant, chief inspection of construction at the HSE, said: “Through initiatives like this we are able to tackle underlying issues before they become established and we will continue to work with the industry in an effort to drive up standards.

“However those who recklessly endanger the health and lives of their workforce can expect to face tough consequences.”

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Expert Opinion

The high number of construction sites found to be unsafe during this initiative is simply unacceptable. The building industry is one of the most dangerous sectors for employees, yet the findings of this campaign show that lessons are clearly not being learned by businesses. <br/> <br/>"The dangers of failing to adequately protect workers cannot be overstated, as we regularly see cases when victims of work accidents have suffered serious, life-changing injuries as a result of basic failings such as a lack of training or vital equipment. <br/> <br/>"Working at height is particularly dangerous yet this remains an area of major concern. Standards desperately need to be improved and we would urge employers to recognise the important steps they have to take to keep their staff safe from harm."