The HSE’s Chief Inspector of Construction is challenging the refurbishment industry to act now and protect their workers, after 46% of sites fell below standards during a recent inspection initiative.
HSE targeted small refurbishment sites during the month long drive and 692 enforcement notices and 983 notifications of contravention had to be served where there was a material breach of health and/or safety. Inspectors had to deal with immediate risks, such as work at height, and also to deal with sites where workers were being exposed to silica dust and asbestos, which cause long term health problems.
Health and safety breaches were also followed up with clients and designers, reinforcing their duties under the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM) 2015 and help them understand their responsibilities.
Peter Baker, the HSE’s Chief Inspector of Construction said: “It is disappointing that some small refurbishment sites are still cutting corners and not properly protecting their workers. Falls from height are the most common killer in the industry but we still found workers put at risk to save minutes on the job – believing it wouldn’t happen to them.
“The mis-conception that health issues cannot be controlled is simply not true and ruining people’s lives. Harmful dust, whether silica or wood, is a serious issue and can be managed effectively with the right design, equipment and training. Health effects may not be immediate but the ultimate impact on workers and their families can be devastating. Each week 100 construction workers die from occupational disease.”
“HSE inspectors found lots of good examples of small sites carrying out work safely, proving it can be done. Larger construction sites accepted the challenge a few years ago and have made big improvements, which all of the industry can learn from. My message to smaller businesses is don’t wait for an accident or visit from an inspector before you make the change, but act now and learn from your colleagues’ example.”
HSE Prosecutions round-up:
Building firm fined after worker hit by mobile platform
Construction company Base Build Services Limited has been prosecuted after a worker was injured by a boom type mobile elevated working platform (MEWP) when it fell from the forks of a tele-handler machine.
The 31-year-old worker from Birmingham broke his leg and suffered facial injuries in the incident at Abbey Trading Centre, Alvechurch Highway, Redditch on 19 November 2014.
Redditch Magistrates’ Court heard that the injured worker was employed by a groundworks contractor carrying out work for Base Build Services Limited.
A MEWP had been left in their area of work and needed to be moved to enable work to continue. A telescopic handler was being used to move the MEWP when it fell from its forks and hit the worker.
An investigation by the HSE found that Base Build Services Limited was aware work was due to start in the area where the MEWP was stored and that the MEWP would need to be moved before work could continue. However, no plan or instructions for the removal of the MEWP had been provided.
In addition, the lead labourer was standing by the telescopic handler at the time that the lift was taking place but failed to take action to stop the lifting operation, even though it was clearly unsafe. The HSE investigation found that the telescopic handler was overloaded and the MEWP was not lifted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Base Build Services Limited, of Abbey Road, London, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 22(1)(a) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,647.92
A building company firm has been fined for safety failings after an employee suffered permanent injury to his eye from lack of correct protection.
Luton Magistrates’ Court heard how on 15 November 2013 an employee of Steele & Bray Limited, of Northampton, was injured when he was hit in the eye by a shard of metal when a work colleague was operating a nail gun to fasten a piece of timber to a steel lintel. The court also heard that the eye-protection being worn by the nail gun operator, being lightweight ‘spectacle’ types rather than impact absorbing ‘goggles’, were not adequate for use with nail guns.
Steele & Bray Limited, of Moore Street, Kingsley, Northampton, was fined a total of £6,500 and ordered to pay £898.20 in costs after pleading guilty to an offence under Regulation 4(1) of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.
A scaffold firm was fined after a worker was seriously injured after falling nine metres.
Bristol Magistrates’ Court heard how an employee of Bristol-based Tubular Access Scaffolds Limited was dismantling a scaffold structure when he fell, causing life-changing head injuries.
An investigation by the HSE into the incident, which occurred on 23 July 2013, at Berkley Crescent, Clifton, found that there was no evidence of preventative measures taken by the company before the incident.
Tubular Access Scaffolds Limited, of Duckmoor Road, Ashton, was fined a total of £26,250, after pleading guilty to offences under Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
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