HSE Falls and Trips Inspection Initiative Results Are Now Available
<p>HSE Construction Division Inspectors carried out over 2,400 targeted
refurbishment site inspections in the United Kingdom over two separate periods in
summer 2007 and February 2008.</p>
<ul><li>1,108 sites and 1,419 contractors were inspected</li>
<li>208 Prohibition Notices (PN) on work at height issued</li>
<li>19 Improvement Notices (IN) on work at height issued</li>
<li>17 Prohibition Notices on good order were issued</li>
<li>13 Improvement Notices on good order issued</li>
<li>138 Notices issued on other serious areas of concern</li>
<li>In 13 cases, inspectors believed the situation on site to be so poor that prosecution is being considered.</li></ul>
<p>Approximately
one in three sites, and one in four contractors, were considered to be
working so far below the acceptable standard that HSE inspectors felt
it necessary to use their powers to serve enforcement notices to
immediately stop the work or activity on site (PN), or to require
improvements to be made within a specified timescale (IN).</p>
<p>Working at height is the biggest single cause of serious and fatal
injuries on construction sites, yet despite this, on average, almost
one in five of the sites inspected demonstrated significant failings in
this area requiring service of an immediate PN.</p>
<p>Further information can be found by visiting</p> http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/tripsandfalls/update.htm#feb08?ebul=cons/apr08&cr=03