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4 April 2005 - HSE Results of March Healthy
Handling Blitz
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The Nationwide Healthy Handling Construction Blitz,
undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the month of March 2005,
has now been concluded and results presented.
Inspectors targeted over 1,170 construction sites of all sizes
with the focus being on manual handling, hand-held vibrating tools and
equipment, use of wet cement and site order and organisation.
Contained within the report are the following figures:
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More than 1,600 contractors were visited at sites.
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214 Enforcement notices issued, of which 112 fell within the
targeted areas.
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Other notices issued were mainly for failure to control risks of
falls from heights.
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244 cases were advised by inspectors to cease until correct
improvements had been implemented, of which 99 fell within the targeted areas.
Some findings by the inspectors were as follows:
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Use of cement without adequate washing facilities.
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Heavy loads handling unsafe.
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Users of hand-held vibrating tools unaware of the safe exposure
period.
Mr. Kevin Myers, HSE Chief Inspector for Construction commented:
"Work related ill health affects a significant number of
construction workers, the sector has one of the highest rates of musculoskeletal
disorder in the industry. Back problems, cement dermatitis and vibration white
finger can ruin peoples' lives and force them out of the industry.
"We have produced guidance outlining simple and sensible precautions to help
take account of these hazards. Experience shows that effective management of
these risks can reduce or prevent injury and ill health to workers.
"I am pleased to note that on many sites visited by inspectors during this
initiative all parties involved in the project were working together to address
these health risks by applying the simple precautions set out in the pre-blitz
publicity. However there were still far too many sites where this was not the
case; where the standards were such that the inspectors had to stop the work or
issue enforcement notices to address the shortcomings found. There is clearly
still much to be done by the industry to make the most basic precautions more
commonplace.
"HSE construction inspectors will continue to focus on health issues during 2005
when we will follow up the poor performers identified in this blitz and also
take part in the HSE's cross industry Backs! initiative on musculoskeletal
disorders during the Summer. I urge all those involved in the construction
industry to look again at the Healthy Handling 2005 information on the HSE
website."
HSEs' Healthy Handling 2005 can be accessed by clicking the
following:
Construction: Healthy Handling 2005
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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