May 28, 2004—Inspectors from the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be visiting construction sites nationwide during June 2004 in a bid to reduce the number of fatal and serious injuries in the industry. This latest “blitz” by 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 June 7-25.
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 in the UK; almost 300 people have died from these causes in the last 5 years, says HSE. The construction industry has taken measures to control the risks from falls, transport, and lifting operations, with resulting declines in injuries and deaths, but HSE is now looking to clients, designers, planning supervisors, and contractors to help prevent these hazards well before work starts on site.
Prior to the site blitz phase, HSE’s construction sector will issue 4 pages of free guidance to industry stakeholders. The guidance, available from the FaTaL Risks Campaign helpline at 01582 444248, nfonet@hse.gsi.gov.uk or online details health and safety matters that should be considered by designers and included in contractor risk assessments and the project health and safety plan accepted by clients before work starts.
