HSE inspection blitzes

When the HSE embarks on an inspection blitz it invariably uncovers worryingly high levels of non-compliance. In July 2014, the HSE revealed the results of its national targeted inspection which focused on health risks for construction workers.

During a two-week period of proactive inspections, the HSE demanded improvements and in cases where sites fell short of expected standards, put an immediate stop to work activities. HSE revealed that its inspectors focused on significant health risk issues, such as respiratory risks from dusts containing silica materials, exposure to other hazardous substances such as cement and lead paint, manual handling, noise and vibration.

Although final figures from the initiative are yet to be confirmed, it did state that conditions were so poor on some sites that work had to be stopped on at least 13 occasions.

Following a total of 560 visits to sites, 85 enforcement notices and 107 improvement notices were served, as well the 13 prohibition notices which stopped work on site.

A total of 239 health-related Notices of Contravention were served at 201 of the sites. An HSE spokesman confirmed that these notices generate an Fee For Intervention (FFI) invoice which is the HSE's cost recovery scheme charged at £124 per hour. He also explained that a Notice of Contravention is issued where there has been a material breach of health and safety law but not so bad as to require a prohibition notice or an improvement notice. HSE chief inspector, Heather Bryant, said: “We recognise the construction sector’s progress in reducing the number of people killed and injured by its activities. But it is clear from these figures that there is an unacceptable toll of ill-health and fatal disease in the industry.”