Safety experts ‘appalled at blatant disregard’

Apr 11 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal

UP to a third of construction sites in the North East are putting workers at serious risk, says the Health and Safety Executive.

An inspection of 105 contractors in the region in February led to 19 enforcement notices, with 12 sites forced to stop work until work conditions were improved. Sites halted numbered five in Newcastle, three in Berwick, two on Teesside and one each in Easington and Sunderland.

HSE’s construction division said basic precautions were being flouted and issues such as working at height remained a huge concern.

More than half the enforcement action in this inspection round was against dangerous work at height, which last year killed 23 people. More than half those who died on building sites last year worked in refurbishment, deaths on these sites rising 61%.

Health and safety inspector Michael Brown said: “We stopped work on site immediately during some inspections because we felt there was a real possibility that life would be lost or ruined through serious injury.

“Our inspectors were appalled at the blatant disregard for basic health and safety precautions on refurbishment sites across the North East.

“HSE will not tolerate negligence or poor safety standards on construction sites. It is totally unacceptable that so many lives have been put at risk and we will take all action necessary to protect workers, including closing sites and prosecuting those responsible.

“The construction industry should take ownership of this issue and do more to tackle poor standards on sites.”