Countrywide Effort to Reduce Construction Sector Casualties in the UK
HSE inspectors, as part of a major drive, have inspected construction sites for taking sufficient precautions to ensure worker safety. The safety measures expected from such sites include:
identification and planning to ensure appropriate precautions for jobs that involve working at heights;well organised sites to avoid falls, with clear walkways and stairs;correctly installed and maintained equipment;proper management of risk associated with exposure to asbestos; andtraining of the work force regarding risk control.
A total of 58 sites were visited by the HSE officials and as a result of the inspections, discovery of poor management of risk arising from asbestos exposure has forced the closure of five construction sites in Teesside. 15 other sites have been served notices in connection to the risk of people falling from scaffolding.
An HSE spokesperson said that as long as workers continue to be injured and killed on refurbishment sites, the HSE would continue its campaign against the culprits. He said that it was encouraging to see that the majority of site inspectors did not have to serve enforcement notices as most of the sites were found to be following regulations properly.
However, he added that there still remain a number of sites with dismal safety standards where inspectors had to take formal enforcement action during the course of the campaign. He stressed on the importance of preventive measures to ensure that employees working at a site are safe.
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HSE officials are hopeful that the campaign would reduce casualties in the 1500 construction sites across the UK.
