Health and Safety Executive blitz on 2,014 construction sites focused on refurbishment and roofing work

Nearly one in four construction sites failed safety checks during a March inspection blitz.

The Health and Safety Executive visited 2,414 contractors at 2,014 construction sites across the UK during March. The unannounced visits focused on refurbishment and roofing work after a series of deaths owing to falls from height.

A total 691 enforcement notices were issued at 470 sites, 359 of which were orders to stop work immediately, owing to unsafe work at height or sites lacking 鈥済ood order鈥�.

Philip White, the HSE's chief inspector for construction, said: 鈥淭here are still a small number of employers or contractors who continue to put their own and other people's health and safety at risk. This is unacceptable. I want to make it clear to these operators that we will not hesitate to take action where standards of health and safety are endangering workers lives and livelihoods.鈥�

From April 2008 to the end of March 2009 there were 53 deaths in construction and 11,264 injuries.

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