HSE warns on safety risks

Nearly a third of construction refurbishment sites inspected by the Health & Safety Executive put the lives of workers at risk — according to the HSE’s head of construction, Stephen Williams. This warning follows over 1500 inspections carried out by HSE as part of its rolling inspection programme, with enforcement action on 426 occasions in just two months. Stephen Williams says, ‘We stopped work on site immediately during 244 inspections because we felt there was a real possibility that life would be lost or ruined through serious injury. It is completely unacceptable that so many lives have been put at risk. Our inspectors were appalled at the apparent willingness to ignore basic safety precautions. ‘The simple fact is that despite knowing what they should be doing, too many people are prepared to allow bad practices to continue, even though last year 39 people died on refurbishment, repair and maintenance sites.’ Work at height remains the biggest concern. over half of the enforcement action taken during these inspections was against dangerous work at height, which last year led to the deaths of 23 workers. Stephen Williams says, ‘My advice to those who work in the refurbishment sector is to plan work, use competent workers and if working at height use the right equipment and use it safely.’