HSE inspection blitzes

When the HSE embarks on an inspection blitz it invariably uncovers worryingly high levels of non-compliance. For example, in its annual inspection blitz of construction sites in February and March 2013, the HSE visited 2,363 sites where refurbishment or repair work was taking place and saw 2,976 contractors. Nearly one in five of the sites visited were subject to enforcement action after failing safety checks and 631 enforcement notices were served across 433 sites for poor practices, with 451 notices ordering that work stop immediately until the situation was put right.

Similarly high levels of non-compliance have been found during inspection blitzes on other sectors, such as waste management and recycling. For example, an enforcement drive against motor vehicle repair premises in Kent in December 2010 resulted in half (49%) of employers visited being issued with enforcement notices after inspectors found criminal safety breaches.