Operators of building sites across London are likely to receive a visit from Health & Safety Executive inspectors this week when the organisation embarks on a major initiative in support of its Shattered Lives and Hidden Killer campaigns.
HSE’s inspectors are warning contractors they face “strong enforcement action” if they find safety lapses. Officials say a similar initiative carried out in February last year resulted in more than a third of sites visited receiving enforcement notices because they fell so far below acceptable standards.
Statistics provided by the Executive show 11 construction workers died and a further 1600 suffered injuries requiring more than three days off work in London in 2007/08.
HSE’s Chief Inspector of Construction Stephen Williams said: “while workers in the refurbishment sector continue to be injured and killed, as we stated before our last inspection initiative, HSE will continue to target the contractors and principal contractors on those sites who flout health and safety law and will come down hard on them where necessary”.
