Inspections encouraged to avoid accidents
Construction
14th May 2009
Regular inspection of construction sites are one way in which fatalities in the building industry can be avoided, it has been noted.
Dominic Elliss, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector, also said it is important to make sure platforms with voids are properly regulated by "robust systems".
He commented: "The need to manage voids in platforms [is] well-known and falls from height remain the most common cause of death in the construction industry."
His remarks follow the prosecution of Laing O'Rourke Construction South after a steel worker died on one of its construction sites.
Kieron Deeney fell over ten metres through a hole that had a plywood covering placed on it.
The company was fined £135,000 and ordered to pay costs of more than £18,000 at London Central Criminal Court.
Recent checks of 1,759 refurbishment sites by the HSE found serious risks at 348 premises, resulting in almost 500 enforcement orders.
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