Building site safety targeted by Health and Safety Executive
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been targeting the nation's building sites in a bid to reduce the number of injuries and deaths in the construction industry.
A month-long initiative is being carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with a view to improving standards in the construction industry.
The organisation is sending inspectors to sites across the country in an attempt to cut the number of deaths and injuries caused by accidents.
As part of the scheme, inspectors will carry out unannounced checks at refurbishment and repair project sites, with a focus on high-risk activities such as working at height and dealing with harmful toxins.
Contractors have a responsibility to manage the risks involved with such activities by providing the correct dust monitoring solutions, face masks and other relevant equipment.
Health and Safety Executive chief inspector of construction Heather Bryant explained that too many people are fatally or seriously harmed in the UK's construction sites each year.
"Workers are unnecessarily being exposed to serious health risks, such as asbestos or silica dust, which can have fatal or debilitating consequences," she said.
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"Often we find it is smaller companies working on refurbishment and repair work who are failing to protect their workers through a lack of awareness and poor control of risks."
The expert added that the initiative allows the HSE to help smaller businesses understand their responsibilities and guide their decisions on how to go about rectifying issues.
"However, let me be clear - if we find evidence that workers are being unnecessarily and irresponsibly put at risk we will not hesitate to take robust action," Ms Bryant warned.
As well as high-risk activities, inspectors will also be checking that building sites have basic facilities such as toilets and provisions for hand washing.
Meanwhile, the HSE is changing its rules concerning first aid certification in response to a public consultation on its regulation.
Written by Chris Malone
