Construction sites declared unsafe

The HSE has recently targeted particular regions and sectors where a high level of non-compliance with workplace regulations was suspected.

Firstly, the HSE focused on construction sites in Merseyside, where 88 sites were visited over two days as the part of a month-long initiative. Twenty-one of the sites visited fell below the minimum standards required by law, particularly with regard to working at height. Work was brought to a stand-still in some places and 22 prohibition and 21 improvement notices were issued.

Wayne Crumpton, HSE principal inspector for construction, said: “Companies have a responsibility to protect their workers, to help rid construction of its reputation as being one of Britain’s most dangerous industries.”

Businesses in County Durham were also targeted. Of the 150 workplaces visited, 23 incidences of enforcement action were required. The worrying level of criminal non-compliance included untrained fork-lift truck operators, unguarded machinery and asbestos management failures.