Further to your recent article regarding the HSE blitz (CM, April), I attach an image displaying a clear breach of health and safety witnessed last week.

As a contracts manager for John Sisk & Son and to reduce the chance of the painter falling, I felt obliged to intervene and visit this site next to mine located in Kensington, London. I informed the site manager of the practice which was taking place. The painter had erected the tower with no formal training, no braces had been fitted and it appeared that two towers had been used to achieve the height (five storeys). The introduction of the ladder was beyond me and it beggars belief that this kind of practice still exists within the industry after so many years of campaigning by the HSE. The site manager immediately stopped the painter from working and removed the ladder. If I had not intervened I am sure this operation would have continued.

It is further highlighted by the news that 300 sites of this nature and type of work have been closed. This, in my opinion, is what we should all work towards making a thing of the past.

Source

Construction Manager

Postscript

Myles Dawson MCIOB