London blitz finds unsafe workplaces

A blitz on construction sites in London by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found a catalogue of dangerous working practices.

Work on three-quarters of the 16 sites visited by HSE inspectors had to be stopped because of concerns about unsafe practices, such as working at height, unsafe structures, fire risks, a lack of competent workers and unsafe excavations. Inspectors served 12 prohibition notices and five improvement notices.

HSE inspector Sarah Snelling said site owners and their contractors were “literally risking the lives of those working on these sites as well as others in the immediate area”.