One in five construction sites 'far below' HSE standard

Categories: Construction Health and Safety |


One in five construction sites 'far below' HSE standard Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have revealed that one in five UK construction sites is currently failing to meet the workplace regulator's safety standards.

Of the 1,759 sites visited, 348 were found to be sufficiently unsafe to warrant enforcement action, either through ordered improvements or cessation of work altogether.

The sites inspected were assessed on essential safety issues such as precautions for working at height, the maintenance of safety equipment and workwear, and organisation of work areas and walkways.

Though the figures represent an improvement on the 2007-08 inspection, in which 30 per cent of the inspected sites failed to bear HSE scrutiny, the regulator remains dissatisfied.

Phillip White, HSE’s new chief inspector of construction, said: "While any improvement has to be welcomed, our inspectors still found practices so far below the acceptable standard that they felt it necessary to take enforcement action on one in five sites. This is still very worrying."

Last month, the HSE fined a construction company £135,000 for the accidental death of a worker, and issued a warning over the necessity of proper safety precautions when working at height.ADNFCR-1200-ID-19166816-ADNFCR

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