[An evaluation of Health & Safety Practices in the UK Construction Industry]

By

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.0 Background of the study1

1.1 Problem Statement3

1.2 Purpose of the study5

1.3 Aims and objectives of the study6

1.4 Rationale of the study6

1.5 Significance of the study7

1.6 Research Questions8

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW9

2.1 Outline of Chapter 29

2.2 Preparing for work11

2.3 Setting up the site17

REFERENCES28

BIBLIOGRAPHY38

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background of the study

The Department for Business Innovation and Skill (BIS) in the year 2009, London, states that the construction Industry is the leading sector of the UK economy. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the year 2005, at Manchester, has also identified the industry as the second most dangerous, only preceded by the agricultural industry.

Construction sites are notorious for work-related injuries and fatalities (Everett and Frank 1996). The HSE has reported that from 2002 to 2003, seventy one workers were killed in the construction industry. Additionally 4,480 construction workers suffered major injury and a further 9,587 construction workers suffered injuries which kept them away from work for three days. (HSE 2003:12). It is important to note that work related injuries and fatalities in construction do not only result in human suffering, but also cause economic loss on the injured. ([Everett and Frank, 1996:23] and [Findley et al., 2004]). It is therefore in the interest of both the company and the workers to enforce and maintain a safe work environment.

Even though efforts are made to ensure a safe working environment, many companies' safety plans are not effective (Molenaar, Brown, Caile& Smith, 2002). As a result, a number of schemes have been devised and implemented by the HSE to advance health and safety in the workplace. These manifest in the forms of legislations and legal bodies and training; and have reduced the number of accidents in the construction industry.

HSE visited 1446 construction sites in the year 2003 and asked to stop all the work immediately if the fact that there was a great risk of employees that may fall from height. Additionally, around 5% of the construction sites were issued with the notices for improvement concerns. (Hughes and Ferett, 2008: 144). The HSE inspector visits a site on a weekly or monthly basis depending on the necessity.

The role of the HSE is to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute breaches of health and safety law in all workplaces. The HSE's 'Enforcement Policy Statement' emphasises the serious nature of any death resulting from work activities. However, the HSE do not have the authority to investigate or prosecute individual or corporate manslaughter, or any other criminal offences in the workplace; this remains in the jurisdiction of the courts and enforcement authorities. The HSE serve as an advisory body. (http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/investigation.htm 22/11/2010).

The HSE in 2009 at Old London, reports that the most common cause of accidents is falls from height. Davies &Tomasin (1996) reported that approximately 70-80% of accidents occur due to falls. Hughes and Ferret (2008) state that working at height is a contributory factor that accounts for approximately 50-60 deaths and 4000 ...