Member Article

A campaign that ran throughout March has been extended into April, and will focus on refurbishment, repair and maintenance works. Statistics show that more than half of workers who died on construction sites in recent years were working on refurbishment projects. The traditional view is that health and safety focuses on new build sites, but there is also a very high incidence of injury and death amongst workers in the refurbishment sector, which the HSE intends to address through inspections and strong enforcement action. It will concentrate on issues such as working from height, avoiding trips and falls, and the risks of exposure to asbestos.

If you are an owner or developer procuring refurbishment works, it is your duty to make sure that the construction team is properly appointed in accordance with the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007, which would include the duty of care to appoint a properly qualified CDM co-ordinator and principal contractor.

The March crackdown saw work stopped at a third of sites in Aberdeen, following visits from HSE inspectors. For the full story, go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7959072.stm

Andrew Mason, partner in Shoosmiths' construction team, advises clients procuring construction operations on the proper appointment of the construction team in accordance with health and safety regulations.

Ron Reid, partner in Shoosmiths' regulatory team, advises clients on health and safety legislation, including clients' exposure to criminal prosecution. He also heads Shoosmiths' Operational Safety, which offers a comprehensive occupational safety service for clients, including full audits, risk assessment and training.