Additional Construction Inspectors

HSE's Recruitment Campaign

The Health and Safety Executive recently announced that it is seeking up to 30 additional inspectors who have a background in the construction industry and an understanding of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.

This increase of inspectors follows close on an earlier recruitment drive that resulted in 19 trainee inspectors to work in the construction industry.

From June 2009, the HSE's construction division is expected to number around 175 people available to visit construction sites in the UK. This represents a significant increase of around a third more inspectors, reflecting the high level of concern about the industry's safety record.

This recruitment drive represents something of a policy change by the HSE who previously stated that they had no plans to increase the number of their inspectors. The change may well be in response to pressure from the government and trade unions for a meaningful reduction in the number of fatal and serious accidents that are still occurring on construction sites.

Appalling Accident Record

The latest statistics indicate the current rate of fatalities in the construction industry to be 72 people a year.

The HSE carried out an inspection of 1759 refurbishment sites in March and found 20% to be below acceptable standards. Some were better managed than others but 348 sites had risks that were sufficiently serious that the inspectors issued enforcement notices.

The Chief Inspector of Construction for the HSE stated:

"This inspection initiative was well publicised and for our inspectors to still find this level of disregard for basic health and safety standards on refurbishment sites is disappointing."

The new recruits are likely to spend most of their time on preventative work - conducting site inspections and ensuring risks are being properly managed. Inspections will include offering advice and, where necessary, using formal enforcement which includes issuing fines.

Focus on Accident Hotspots

The new initiative is planned to focus particularly on London, Midlands, Manchester and industrial areas of Scotland, though other areas will not be ignored.

This doesn't only affect large construction companies and projects. Standards of safety are considered to be particularly poor for smaller projects, such as refurbishment work. Last year over half the people who died on construction sites were employed on refurbishment, repair or maintenance. The new drive for safety, therefore, is likely to impact a wide range of organisations including building contractors, clients and other professionals involved with such work.

Everyone in the construction industry needs to heed the warning and ensure their house is in order, covering such basics as ensuring all the paperwork is in place (e.g. Risk Assessments and Method Statements), site welfare facilities are provided and up to standard, all workers are using appropriate PPE and suitable training has been provided for manual handling and working at height.

Arrangements for working at height are of particular concern since, according to the HSE website, more than half the enforcement action resulting from the latest inspection initiative was the result of dangerous work at height, which last year led to 34 deaths amongst construction workers.

Make Sure You Are Prepared

If you are planning any construction (or demolition) work in the next couple of years, ensure you are well advised about your responsibilities and legal duties.

If your project is more substantial (i.e. lasts for more than 30 days or involves more than 500 person-days work) then it must be notified to the HSE before you begin work and you need to appoint a competent person to act as CDM Coordinator.

This may appear to be a lot of government bureaucracy and red tape, but it is aimed at reducing the appalling accident record which devastates whole families and anything that helps has to be welcomed.

EDP provides CDM Coordinator services for major construction projects across a range of sectors as well as training, mentoring and advice for construction work of all kinds.

For more information, visit our Construction Website at http://www.edp-uk.com/construction/

Or to discuss your requirements, without any obligation on your part, please gives us a call on 01744 766000 or complete the Enquiry Form on our website.