IOSH Construction Review 2013 by Health and Safety Executive

Our Health and Safety Team attended the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Construction Review delivered by Andrew Kingscott, Principal Inspector Construction for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and we wish to update you with a summary of the presentation. The following topics were raised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE): General Overview / Comment Andrew stated that history was continuously repeating itself with the same issues are arising and similar types of accidents happening over and over and that there is a two tier approach to the industry: Some try. Some do not.

The presentation consisted of the following topics: Review of Accident Trends and Occupational Illness (health issues) Recent Cases of Interest and Wider Learning Construction Division Work Plan Looking Forward

Accident Trends 2011 / 2012 saw 49 fatal accidents; 2012 / 2013 has seen 46 fatal accidents to date, all singular events with no multiple fatalities (2 months reporting still to log until April); Locally (South West England) saw 2 fatalities during demolition / excavation on site (Road roller and a fall into an excavation); 2012 / 2013 has seen 2230 Major Injuries; More than 72% on small sites; 52% on refurbishments; 30% Working at Height; 26% Collapse; Accidents and occurrences on refurbishment works are up; Accidents and occurrences on new build works are down; HSE will actively target refurbishment works during 2013.

Occupational Illness (health issues) 3500 Cancer Deaths; 5500 Registered Occupational Cancers; Construction industry had the largest number of reported occupational cancers; 74,000 reported cases of occupationally related ill health; HSE wish to address occupational health issues, particularly cancer.

Recent Cases of Interest Timber Frame Building Incident A company constructing timber frame buildings in Exeter received several enforcement notices before two employees suffered major injuries from falling down a lift shaft. The employees were working on a temporary work platform made from timber on the roof of the building, above the lift shaft. All of the floors were fitted with temporary crash decks, except the top floor. There was no ring beam at the top QD04-104-01 21/02/2013

of the lift shaft, and the work platform was not properly secured, it was then overloaded leading to it failing and two workers falling down the lift shaft. All the temporary work platforms failed and the men fell 5 stories. Main headline issues: Poor design risk assessment; Floor loadings not calculated fully; Inadequate structural assessment; Inadequate supports fitted to ring beams; Temporary working provision inadequate and not designed fully; Temporary working platforms made of timber were poorly designed.

Concrete Building Incident Accommodation buildings in Bath were being constructed with pre-cast concrete. There were several failings around the site; poor edge protection, unstable back propping and unstable temporary propping. No distinction had been made between necessary and unnecessary propping, so when some were moved, it lead to eccentric loading on beam. A load on one beam tipped and the concrete fell on a worker below and narrowly missed another. One worker died on the site. Main headline issues: Poor design risk assessment; Inadequate edge protection; Inadequate temporary working provision e.g. Props moved without suitable planning and assessment which resulted in a structural collapse; Lack of suitable redundancy for temporary works e.g. only 2 support brackets used where 4 would have been more appropriate.

Asbestos Incident A Tesco Metro shop tried to strip and dispose of asbestos whilst the store was open so there would not be an impact on trade. They had platforms 800mm below the ceiling, where the workers could remove asbestos above the shop floor. They invited the HSE to view the works, and were informed that the work was unsafe and that they should stop trading immediately. Reduced Dig Projects Where reduced dig projects are undertaken, the HSE wish to see proper planning and risk assessment, including suitable and sufficient design and structural assessment. The message that the HSE wish to stress is that all temporary works must be robust with risks assessed and mitigated. Tower Crane Collapse Recent tower crane collapse identified that poor planning and design risk assessment with base fixings inadequate (20mm diameter dowels instead of 32mm diameter dowels) and compromised by piling locations. The 79-metre-high tower crane was being used as part of a multi-million pound project to build a new eight-storey hotel and seven apartment blocks at Kings Dock Mill on Tabley Street when it overturned. The crane driver fell from his cab onto the roof of the apartments and through the hole created by the counterweights.

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He suffered multiple injuries including a brain haemorrhage, fractured skull, broken right shoulder, broken ribs, crush injuries to his left side, and major spinal injuries which resulted in his legs being paralysed. This type of incident is a Low Frequency High Consequence Incident which the HSE will be reviewing similar activities to try and avert similar incidents. Construction Division Work Plan 2013 / 2014 The HSE intend to prioritise and focus their efforts as follows: Asbestos 20% Small Sites 30% Refurbishments 25% Major Client / Project 10% Local Priority 15%

Added Priorities Specific areas of interest and review will be: Fragile Materials Dust Control RPE Face Fit e.g. for FFP3 Masks Lifts Nuclear

Key Generic Risks The following headline issues to be reviewed will be: Leadership Health risks Worker involvement Contractor Competence Temporary Work

Low Frequency High Consequence Incidents Particular focus will be the prevention of incidents in the following: Collapse of permanent structures Collapse / overturn of plant Fire (especially for timber frame construction / structures) Underground Services

HSE 2013 Goals Sensible Health and Safety Health and Safety to be seen as an enabler, not a negative blocking mechanism Sensible solutions Proportionate approach Simplification of guidance Reduced regulation Target highest risk QD04-104-01 21/02/2013

Fee for Intervention (FFI) The Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2012 put a duty on HSE to recover its costs for carrying out its regulatory functions from those found to be in material breach of health and safety law. This shifts some of the cost of health and safety regulation from the public purse to those businesses and organisations that break health and safety laws. In summary, HSE approach will be: No change in application of Enforcement Management Model (EMM) fair but firm approach Notice of contravention (HSE improvement or prohibition notice, or a prosecution must include the following information: the law that the inspectors opinion relates to; the reasons for their opinion; and notification that a fee is payable to HSE) Only applicable if there has been a material breach (A material breach is when, in the opinion of the HSE inspector, there is or has been a contravention of health and safety law that requires them to issue notice in writing of that opinion to the dutyholder).

The following statistics for FFI are: 22,000 visits in first year October / November 1400 invoices issued to a value of 730K 250K was in construction sector 70% of fees were less than 500 30% of fees were less than 200 10% of fees were less than 1000

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