HSE to target Eastern region

16 July 2007

Falls and trips in construction

The latest injury statistics show that 40% of all worker deaths in construction are caused by a fall from height.  In the last 5 years, there have been 13 such deaths involving construction workers in the Eastern Region alone. Added to this, hundreds of major injuries have involved a fall from below head height or tripping over materials on walkways.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be carrying out targeted inspections of construction sites throughout Beds, Bucks, Herts and Cambs during July in a bid to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by falls and trips. During these visits, HSE inspectors will provide advice and will take robust enforcement action where there is a serious failure to comply and control the risk to those working on site.

Inspectors will focus on making sure the correct precautions are taken during work at low and high heights to prevent the risk of a fall. They will also be checking that sites are kept in good order. Employers must ensure that workers are competent and have access to the right equipment. Sensible measures like keeping walkways on site clear must be taken to see an improvement in safety.

(Source – HSE press release 10/7/07)