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HSE inspectors are to launch an intensive inspection initiative aimed at stopping dangerous practices on building sites in the North East.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) wants to raise awareness of construction site risks and prevent unnecessary injuries and deaths.
Construction is one of Britain’s most dangerous industries. During 2008/09 three died and 566 were injured in the North East area while working in construction.
The inspection initiative – launched this month – will focus on refurbishment or roofing work with inspections in the Newcastle and Middlesbrough areas. Inspectors will make unannounced visits to ensure that sites are managing work at height safely and are in good order.
Robert Hirst, Principal Inspection with HSE’s Construction Division in the North East said:
“Each year too many construction workers are needlessly injured or killed while working on site. While some sectors of the industry have made real improvements in recent years, we are really concerned about standards in the refurbishment sector, particularly on small projects.
“HSE does not think a lax attitude to health and safety in one of the more dangerous industries is acceptable, especially when many of the incidents are completely avoidable by taking commonsense actions and precautions.
“This is the third year running we have run initiatives like this and, after these latest inspections, we hope that we can report back that we have found good practice and safely operating sites.
“However, if we find poor practice that is putting the lives of workers and, in some cases the public, at risk we will take action; this could include closing sites and prosecuting those responsible.”
Last year inspectors visited 1759 sites and 2145 contractors and were forced to issue more than 270 prohibition notices to stop dangerous work – much of it relating to working from height.
Firm fined after worker trapped for more than two hours in trench collapse
A building firm has been fined £5,000 after a worker was injured and trapped for more than two hours when the trench he was in collapsed.
Vickers Construction Limited, of Yarm Road, Eaglescliffe, was also ordered to pay costs of £3,178.10 at Darlington Magistrates’ Court after it pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The court heard how in November 2008, an excavator was being used to dig a trench for drainage pipes on a sloping bank at the Allanbrae site, near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
Construction worker, John Taylor, 44 of Thornaby was laying pipes when the trench wall collapsed. Mr Taylor was trapped from the waist down for more than two hours and also suffered bruising to his legs.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) showed that the driver of the excavator had not received suitable training in its use.
After the case, HSE Inspector Dr Dave Shallow, said: “Trench collapses are a well-known cause of serious injuries and deaths in the construction industry and this incident could have easily been avoided. The employee using the excavator should have been properly trained and industry guidance, which recommends providing shoring or trench boxes, should have been followed.
“Companies need to recognise the dangers of excavations and ensure safe systems of work are in place before workers enter excavations.”
