Scottish Construction Sites Get Failing Grades for Safety

One in five construction sites in Scotland were so dangerous that workers lives were being put at risk according to inspectors who visited them during February and March.

 

 

In an initiative aimed at reducing deaths and injuries in one of Britains most dangerous industries, inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive visited 288 sites and a total of 53 were found to be so far below required standards that inspectors had to issue formal enforcement notices. They were targeting refurbishment projects – the worst performing sector of the construction industry.

 

 

Several of the sites visited received more than one enforcement notice either stopping work activities immediately or requiring improvements to be made. In total, inspectors issued 50 prohibition and 10 improvement notices, with 39 of the notices relating to unsafe work being carried out at height.

 

 

The latest figures show that, during 2009/10, 3 workers died while working in construction in Scotland and there were more than 1,100 injuries. Nationally nearly three quarters of all fatalities occurred during refurbishment, repair and maintenance activities.

 

 

Jeanette Reuben, head of Construction Scotland, noted, "This was the fifth year of the inspection initiative and it is disappointing to find construction sites taking the same unnecessary risks with their workers lives.

 

 

"We know construction is an industry capable of getting it right, as the majority of sites we inspected showed.

 

 

"But the fact that we found unsafe conditions on one in five sites is unacceptable. Companies have a responsibility to protect their workers, to help rid construction of its reputation as being one of Britains most dangerous industries."