HSE Update

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HSE Update

• Michael BrownHM Inspector of Health and Safety

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Case study 1

• New build housing site
• Main HS problems at 1st visit
• Work at height
• Good order (trip hazards)
• Workplace transport
• Information to workers?

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What action did we take?

• PN for unsafe work at height
• INs for transport and good order
• MD telephoned from site
• Construction director, construction manager and
  HS manager sent to site

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2nd visit to site

• Conditions show no improvement
• Housekeeping still poor
• Transport issues not addressed
• Still issues regarding work at height

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What action did we take?

• Work on site ceased until improvements made
• Construction manager was on site at time of visit
• MD telephoned and construction director sent to
  site
• MD interviewed under caution

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3rd visit to site

• Improvements achieved
• Good standard of housekeeping
• Tidy site
• Good storage etc.
• Site Transport issues tackled
• Segregation of pedestrians and vehicles
• Signage etc.

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What can be achieved
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What can be achieved
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What can be achieved
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Final outcome

• Company prosecuted 5 charges
• MD appears in Magistrates Court
• Total fine 44,000
• Plus costs 1,700
• Negative publicity
• Negative effect on future business?

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Why did it happen?

• Lack of appreciation of standards?
• Pressure on site manager?
• Lack of taking personal responsibility?
• Poor performance of senior management?
• Problem not taken seriously?
• Poor communication/worker engagement?

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Case study 2

• New house building site
• Excavation collapse
• Fatal accident (one person killed and another
  seriously injured)
• Previous collapse of excavation
• Situation known to site manager and his assistant
• Other poor HS practice

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Judges Conclusions Groundworks company

• Unaware that undertaking deep excavation work
• Labour only sub-contractor
• Left supervision to PC
• Too little direct supervision of own employees
• Too little instruction training not sufficient
• Fine 20K plus 5K costs

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Judges conclusions - PC

• Ignored standards
• Failed to implement own policy and MS
• Knew of previous collapse
• Actions of site manager extraordinary
• Gross negligence bordering on recklessness
• Fine 300K plus 28K costs

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Case study 3

• Refurbishment of school kitchen
• Removal of AIB from steriliser room
• Asbestos survey available
• Kitchen contaminated
• Approx 30 to 40K damage

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Conclusion

• Site manager charged under S7HSWA
• Risk obvious to even untrained person
• Fine 500 plus costs 300
• Company served IN for asbestos awareness training

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Case study 4

• Refurbishment of culvert
• Crane hire v- contract lift
• Collapse of crane
• Planning, supervision and undertaking of work in
  unsafe manner
• Training of employees

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Conclusion

• 5 charges (HSWA LOLER)
• Failure to plan, supervise undertake work
  safely
• Guilty pleas
• Fine 20K plus costs 3,000

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Case study 5

• New house build
• Individual was PC and employer
• INs served for good order and welfare facilities
• PN served for unsafe work at height
• Welfare facilities provided
• But..

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Conclusion

• 3 charges S2 S21 (1 withdrawn)
• Guilty pleas
• Blamed utility company
• Fine 5,000 plus costs 3,500

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Case Study 6

• Refurbishment project
• PC and asbestos contractor on site
• Issues of work at height and control of
  contractors
• Removal of asbestos cement roof
• Fatal accident following fall from mobile tower
  scaffold

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Action taken

• PNs served on PC and sub-contractor for work at
  height
• 2 INs on sub-contractor fir harness training and
  inspection
• PR of sub-contractor S2 R6(3)
• Link between fatal accident conditions unable
  to be made
• Fine 7,500 1,000 plus costs 2,900

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Overall conclusion

• Spate of non-compliance with notices
• Main issues are
• Traffic management
• Good order
• Work at height

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What are the lessons

• Planning
• Review
• Training
• Worker engagement
• Site monitoring and taking responsibility
• Know when to stop