Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had to take formal action to stop work activity at almost one in five of the construction sites they visited during a recent inspection initiative.

HSE have described the results as very disappointing.

In support of its Shattered Lives and Hidden Killer campaigns, HSE inspectors targeted principal contactors in Edinburgh 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 39 sites, and saw 48 contractors on those sites. They issued four Prohibition Notices - legal documents preventing unsafe activity from taking place -for dangerous working at height. Additionally, two Prohibition Notices were issued for very poor conditions when using power tools on stonework. In all, seven of the sites visited required formal action to be taken.

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HSE Principal Construction Inspector Jim Skilling commented: "I was particularly disappointed at the standards of work we encountered on sites during our recent inspections in Edinburgh. At several sites, we were sufficiently concerned about safety that we had to take formal legal action to stop work immediately. Our main concern was unsafe working at height. There were also issues relating to poor welfare conditions for workers.

"I was also unhappy to find stoneworkers putting themselves at risk, by exposing themselves to large volumes of silica - dust produced when grinding stone. Although not a risk to the public, this can lead to stoneworkers developing chronic breathing difficulties and even lung cancer."

The HSE intends to follow up on the poor performance encountered, to ensure improvements have been made. Ultimately, 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)