March 18, 2011 4.50 pm This story is over 155 months old

Lives at risk at Lincoln construction sites

Dangerous: Ten construction sites across Lincoln have been shut down due to health and safety risks.

Work was stopped immediately at 10 construction sites across Lincoln after they were deemed so dangerous that worker’s lives were at risk, according to inspectors who visited sites earlier this month.

Twelve prohibition notices were issued in total, with unsafe work being carried out at height and failure to have an asbestos survey being the most common faults.

The Health and Safety Executive did not however, name the 10 sites in the city that were issued the prohibition notices.

Figures show that in Lincolnshire one worker died and 110 were injured during 2009/10, sparking an initiative aiming to reduce deaths and injuries in one of Britain’s most dangerous industries.

Forty-five construction sites across the county were visited by Health and Safety Executive inspectors, targeting refurbishment projects, the worst performing sector of the construction industry.

Principal Inspector for Construction, Richard Lockwood, explained how he was disappointed that construction sites are still taking the same unnecessary risks with their worker’s lives, despite the inspections being in their fifth year.

Lockwood said: “Although there were examples of good practice, which the industry can learn from, the fact that we found unsafe conditions on almost a quarter of sites is unacceptable. Companies have a responsibility to protect their workers.”

Source: NDS