HSE NE/239/08 24 June 2008

Work halted on Newcastle refurbishment sites after safety fears

Work was halted on construction sites in Newcastle last week as part of a HSE crackdown on unsafe practices.

Inspectors visited 24 contractors engaged on refurbishment sites in the city and served four prohibition notices, effectively stopping work due to concerns about working at height and electrical issues.

Two improvement notices were also issued to contractors where there was a lack of adequate welfare facilities and the use of stepladders without carrying out a risk assessment.

It is the second time this year that HSE inspectors have carried out random checks on the refurbishment sector where the number of deaths rose by 61 per cent last year.

HSE Inspector, Jonathan Wills, said: "Site safety should be paramount and the simple answer is that too many sites allow bad practices to continue.

"Working at height remains the biggest concern and is the single greatest cause of workplace fatalities, while slips and trips are the most common cause of serious injury.

"The construction industry is a challenging environment with a mobile workforce moving from site to site, many with a poor understanding of the problems. But it is up to us all to ensure that they have a safe working environment and receive the proper training so that their lives are not put at risk."

During the safety crackdown, HSE inspectors looked at whether:

• Jobs that involve working at height had been identified and properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions were in place
• Equipment was correctly installed / assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly
• Sites were well organised, to avoid trips and falls
• Walkways and stairs were free from obstructions
• Work areas were clear of unnecessary materials and waste
• The workforce was made aware of risk control measures.

More information is available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/tripsandfalls/index.htm

Public enquiries:

Call HSE's InfoLine, Tel: 08701 545500,
or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

Press enquiries (Journalists only):

Jackie Woods: Tel: 0191 202 3604; or
Jill Barber: 0191 202 3609.

Issued on behalf of the HSE by COI NEWS AND PR (NORTH EAST)