HSE Refurbishment Initiative 2016: Update

Last time we wrote to you we issued guidance that the HSE was targeting sites where refurbishment work is being carried out in order to identify any unsafe working practices.  The initiative has now finished so here’s a summary of how it went.

HSE inspectors visited 1,908 refurbishment sites across the country and issued 983 notifications of contravention where there was a “material breach” of health and safety found.  In addition, there were 432 prohibition notices, where specific on-site activities had to be stopped immediately, and 260 improvement notices, where the site team had to draw up a plan to improve safety procedures.

What is of particular note is that, for the first time, many clients and designers also received improvement notices under CDM 2015.  A HSE spokeswoman explained that this year’s enforcement campaign, which was the first to take place under the revised CDM 2015 Regulations, was also the first that sought to “track back” responsibility for safety breaches to clients and design teams.

It highlights even further the need to be diligent in identifying any unsafe work practices – or risk prosecution. At Aegis, we can work with you to identify and resolve health and safety issues which will reduce risk, protect your workforce and diminish the likelihood of breaches of health and safety laws being identified by HSE Inspectors.

 Contact us on 01772 736522 or email admin@aegis-services-ltd.co.uk for more information.