Safe Contractor should help to Avoid Serious Failings on Site

The process of attaining Safe Contractor status, may at first appear to be ‘unnecessary work’.  However the process of understanding where the ‘gaps’ in legal duty and best practice are within your organisation allows you to improve in almost no time.  The Safe Contractor approval process can be tricky and hence why many firms like the support from a consultant who understands the requirements.

You may be aware that the HSE has undertaken region-wide Construction Site inspections, many of which have resulted in notices being served or prosecutions.

During February and March, almost half of the building sites in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall were dangerous according to inspectors who visited them.  Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited 54 sites and inspectors issued enforcement notices at 25.  Most of the notices related to unsafe work being carried out at height.

There were 272 injuries on buildings sites in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall in 2009/10.Nationally, nearly three-quarters of all fatalities occur during refurbishment, repair and maintenance activities.

Joanna Teasdale, principal inspector for construction, said: “This was the fifth year of the inspection initiative and it is disappointing to find construction sites taking the same unnecessary risks with their workers’ lives.  Although there were examples of good practice, which the industry can learn from, the fact that we found unsafe conditions on almost half of sites is unacceptable. Companies have a responsibility to protect their workers, to help rid construction of its reputation as being one of Britain’s most dangerous industries.”

Perhaps it would be sensible for you to consider registering with Safe Contractor and in doing so help to ensure that your practices on site are better controlled.  This benefits everyone, helping you to protect employees, contractors and the public and minimising the risk of prosecution if you take the Safe Contractor process seriously.