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12 July 2004 - Construction Health and Safety Improves

The FaTaL Risks Campaign of 2004 has produced figures showing promising signs that health and safety in the UK's construction industry is beginning to improve.

During the nationwide FaTaL Risks Campaign blitz in June 2004, prohibition notices were issued to approximately one in five sites compared to the nationwide blitz in September 2003, when inspectors issued prohibition notices to one in four sites visited.

• Inspectors contacted 1691 dutyholders of all types of project and visited 1255 sites around the UK

• Over 90% of projects visited had less than 50 workers

• The inspections, which focused on falls from height, transport and lifting operations resulted in 240 prohibition and 74 improvement notices being served.

Chief Inspector for Construction Kevin Myers commented on these recent figures:

“I am pleased to see evidence of some improvement, however these results continue to cause concern, industry must improve further.   Inspectors are still finding failure to meet basic requirements on too many projects.   We are analysing these findings, and other intelligence, and will make targeted follow-up interventions and further site visits later this year to selected projects and employers.   Inspectors will be looking to see that necessary systems are in place to deal, in a sustainable way, with the underlying causes of these shortcomings.

“I am, however, pleased to note the widespread awareness of the FaTaL Risks blitz and the take up of our campaign Guidance.   This is still available on the HSE website.   Inspectors found many examples of good practice gaining a firm foothold.   I would like to thank the various industry bodies who supported and promoted the campaign issues.”

Campaign Breakdown

• Falls from height risks having most prohibitions - 184 notices mainly due to poor standards of scaffolding, unguarded roof edges, and risk of internal falls

• Transport operations involving on-site vehicles and plant - 17 prohibitions.   The main concern was lack of traffic planning arrangements to manage transport risks.   Unsafe vehicles - 11 prohibitions.   Very few prohibition notices concerned untrained drivers, which may reflect the recent industry drive to improve training standards.

• Lifting operations - 9 prohibitions.   Mainly due to failure to plan lifting operations, or because plant was unsafe or unsuitable.

• Falls from height, transport and lifting operations account for over 70% of all fatal injuries in construction

• Almost 300 people have died from these causes in the last 5 years.