Targeted inspection initiatives in 2007/08

HSE Construction Division Inspectors carried out over 2,400 targeted refurbishment site inspections nationally over two separate periods in summer 2007 and February 2008.

We were particularly looking at the risks associated with falls from height and good order on site, checking to see if you were:

• Getting it right when working at height.
• Keeping your site in good order.

During both inspection periods basic safety precautions on many of the refurbishment sites we inspected were found to be very poor, quite often placing the lives of workers at risk.   Where we found unacceptable safety standards, we did not hesitate to take enforcement action.

What did we find during our inspections initiatives?

• Results of the Falls and Trips initiative – February 2008
• Results of the Falls and Trips initiative Summer 2007

Reducing falls and trips is a priority

Falls continue to be the biggest cause of fatal injury in Britain’s workplaces, with 23 of the 77 worker deaths in construction in 2006/07(p) resulting from a fall from height. On top of this, over 4,000 major injuries such as broken bones or fractured skulls are reported to HSE each year by the construction industry. Over half of these serious injuries involve falls from height or from tripping over materials on walkways and are easily preventable.

The falls and trips inspection initiatives in construction continued HSE's enforcement led inspection activity and follow on from the Fit Out Campaign in 2005 and the Watch Your Step initiative in 2006. Reducing the number of injuries and deaths from falls and trips is a priority for HSE to help the construction industry meet its accident target by 2010, and more importantly to help prevent the devastating effect these kinds of accidents have on the lives of workers and their families.

Sensible Approach

The number of accidents can be reduced by taking a sensible approach:

• Plan and organise work properly.
• Make sure that people involved in work at height are competent.
• Select and use the right equipment.
• Keep walkways on site clear of obstructions.

• Real examples of good and bad practice

Shattered Lives campaign

HSE is running a new advertising campaign in Spring 2008 on slips, trips and falls in the workplace. The aim is to raise awareness of the risks and help those involved to take simple action that will prevent slips trips and falls. Building and plant maintenance and the construction industry feature heavily in the campaign.