Developers face fallout from HSE refurb blitz

Following its safety blitz in February the HSE last month issued 395 enforcement notices, half of which were prohibition orders requiring action before sites can resume work, mirroring results from last summer’s audit of the sector. Stephen Williams, the regulator’s chief inspector of construction, said 13 sites could be prosecuted because safety standards were so poor.

‘Our inspectors were appalled at the blatant disregard for basic health and safety precautions on refurbishment sites across Britain,’ said Williams.

The HSE is now considering targeting property developers, in the hope that as clients they would be able to improve safety practices of their contractors. The campaign would include targeted high-profile inspection activity and publicity information similar to the current Shattered Lives campaign, which tackles falls from height.

‘It’s about targeting those within the sector who are important. Clients are part of the process and are key players alongside designers,’ said Williams.

Three firms also felt the HSE’s wrath last month when they were ordered to pay a total of almost £1m for four deaths on site.

The largest fine, £466,000, was dealt to JCB after the deaths of two employees in less than a year. The excavators division was fined £266,000 after worker Paul McNamara suffered fatal head injuries when he was crushed by the boom of a backhoe loader at Uttoxeter in Staffordshire. He died just 10 months after another man, Darren Ellis, was killed when the inspection plate blew off an earthmoving machine during testing. JCB Earthmovers was fined £200,000 for his death.

In Kent, Alfred McAlpine Capital Projects was fined £250,000 for the death of a motorcyclist at roadworks on the Isle of Grain in 2005. Finally, Norfolk-based FJ Chalcroft was appealing the sized of a £260,000 fine issued last October following the death of an employee in November 2003.