Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has started its annual inspection of refurbishment sites that will go on to  9 October.

Inspectors will be focussing on the main causes of accidents and ill-health in this high risk sector. These include:

• work at height
• site good order
• welfare
• exposure to carcinogens such as silica and asbestos
• manual handling
• noise
• vibration
• exposure to hazardous substances

During last year’s campaign, 35% of all enforcement notices served were for health issues and inspectors will again be prioritising the management and control of health risks such as dust and vibration.

Where serious breaches of legislation are found immediate enforcement action will be taken, but HSE says its inspectors will be taking steps to secure a positive change in behaviour to ensure on going compliance.

They also plan to follow up health & safety breaches with clients and designers to reinforce their duties under this year's new CDM regulations and to ensure that all dutyholders with onsite health & safety responsibilities understand and fulfil these.

Read some more:

National company calls on the construction industry to learn from their mistakes during HSE’s refurbishment initiative