07.06.2004

HSE start three-week Lifting & Access blitz today

As previously highlighted by Vertikal.Net, the UK Health and Safety Executive begin the latest “Nationwide blitz” today with hundreds of extra job site visits planned, focusing on Working at height, Transport and Lifting.

This latest ‘blitz’ by the HSE forms part of the FaTal Risks Campaign 2004, an EU wide initiative to address the three major causes of fatal and serious injuries in construction.

Site visits will take place between 7 and 25 June. HSE inspectors will concentrate on:
F - falls arising from work at height; and
T - transport on site including mobile plant and vehicles; and
L - lifting heavy loads with cranes and other lifting machines.

Falls, transport and lifting incidents account for over 70% of all fatal injuries in construction, almost 300 people have died from these causes in the last 5 years.

HSE’s Chief Inspector for Construction Kevin Myers said:

“A good deal has been done by the construction industry to control the risks from falls, transport and lifting operations, however, the number of fatal and serious injuries is not declining fast enough. All involved, from client to contractor, must use the spur of this EU initiative to make further progress to secure effective control and changes to the underlying culture that are needed to advance and sustain improvements in construction health and safety. We are now looking to clients, designers, planning supervisors and contractors to take account of these hazards well before work starts on site. To help achieve this goal we are working with key industry intermediaries and trade associations to support this campaign”

The HSE construction sector has issued 4 pages of free guidance to industry stakeholders; copies are available for clients, designers, planning supervisors and contractors involved in construction procurement, design and planning.

The guidance, available from the FaTaL Risks Campaign helpline on 01582 444248, [email protected] or www.hse.gov.uk/construction details health and safety matters that should be considered by designers, included in contractor risk assessments and the project health and safety plan accepted by clients before work starts.

It is likely that visits will result in enforcement action, including prohibiting work on sites where effective precautions are not in place. Inspectors will also be following-up all cases where significant failings are identified.

The HSE claim that following its second blitz in 2003 no measurable improvement in falls from Height incidents was seen. With forecasts predicting that the targets set for a fatality and serious injury reductions will not be met, you can be sure that the HSE will be more vigilant than ever in this latest blitz.

Preliminary numbers indicate a total of 72 Construction fatalities in the UK in the 12 months to March 2004, mostly related to access and lifting!