Health & Safety

Refurb Causing More Accidents

A third of all sites involved in refurbishment work are putting workers' lives at risk. The figures have been compiled by the Health and Safety Executive under its day-to-day normal inspection programme.

"Our inspectors were appalled at the apparent willingness to ignore basic safety precautions." - Head of Construction at HSE, Stephen Williams

The HSE made nearly 1,600 inspections in June and July, stopping work immediately 244 times. It issued more than 400 enforcement notices. The figures come as the government hosts a safety summit next week following last year's rise in construction fatalities, which climbed to 77, the highest figure for five years.

"The simple fact is that despite knowing what they should be doing, too many people are prepared to allow bad practices to continue. My advice to those who work in refurbishment is to plan work, use competent workers and if working at height use the right equipment and also use it safely." - Head of Construction at HSE, Stephen Williams

January 2008