Following a series of intensive inspections of refurbishment sites throughout the Highlands this month, inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have said they are reasonably happy with standards but warned that there was still room for improvement

In support of its Shattered Lives and Hidden Killer campaigns, HSE inspectors targeted principal contactors in the Highlands to see how they are managing: working at height safely, good order on site and the risks associated with exposure to asbestos

During the inspections, inspectors visited 23 sites, and saw 39 contractors on those sites. They issued two Prohibition Notices - legal documents preventing unsafe activity from taking place -for dangerous working at height.

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Construction Inspector Peter Black of HSE's Inverness office commented: "I was reasonably satisfied with the standards of work we encountered on sites during our recent inspections in the Highlands. However, both the Prohibition Notices we issued were at sites where the client is a public body. As there is a national expectation from these clients that best practice should be the norm, I find it disappointing that this was not what we found.

"We also found examples of contractors not adhering to the latest regulations designed to make it easier to maintain buildings. It is important when refurbishment work is carried out, that contractors take into account future safe maintenance of a building."

HSE intends to follow up on the poor performance we encountered, to ensure improvements have been made. The HSE will submit reports to the Procurator Fiscal if these improvements are not carried out.

Last year (2007/08p) over half (52%) of the workers who died on construction sites worked in refurbishment, repair and maintenance, in line with a similar shocking statistic the previous year (2006/07). In Scotland in 2007/08, there were 11 fatalities in the construction sector, and 1,479 people were injured.

(GK/JM)