THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched an intensive inspection initiative aimed at stopping dangerous practices in construction activity in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Inspectors are seeking to raise awareness of construct

THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched an intensive inspection initiative aimed at stopping dangerous practices in construction activity in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Inspectors are seeking to raise awareness of construction site risks and prevent unnecessary injuries and deaths.

Construction is one of Britain's most dangerous industries. During 2008/09 two people in the area were killed and another 404 were injured while working in construction. Cambridgeshire had 152 accidents, Hertfordshire - 162 and Bedfordshire had 90 accidents.

The inspection initiative - which began March 1 - focuses on refurbishment and roofing work. Inspectors will make unannounced visits to ensure that duty holders are managing hazardous activity, including work at height safely, and are in good order.

Philip White, HSE's chief inspector of construction said:

"Each year too many construction workers are needlessly injured or killed while working on site. While some sectors of the industry have made real improvements in recent years, we are really concerned about standards in the refurbishment sector, particularly on small projects.

"HSE does not think a lax attitude to health and safety in one of the more dangerous industries is acceptable, especially when many of the incidents are completely avoidable by taking commonsense actions and precautions.

"This is the third year running we have run initiatives like this and, after these latest inspections, we hope that we can report back that we have found good practice and safely operating sites.

"However, if we find poor practice that is putting the lives of workers and, in some cases the public, at risk we will take action; this could include closing sites and prosecuting those responsible."

Last year inspectors visited 1759 sites and 2145 contractors, and issued more than 270 prohibition notices to stop dangerous work - much of it relating to work at height.