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Details of Enforcement Notices Issued (updated July 2008)

January - June 2004
July - December 2004
January - June 2005
July - December 2005
January - June 2006
July - December 2006
January - June 2007
July - December 2007
January-June 2008

January - June 2004
Prohibition Notices
A total of six Prohibition Notices were served, five of which were on companies or individuals carrying out construction-related activities.

Three of the notices related to working at height and were as a result of a failure to provide adequate edge protection or sufficient guard rails to a working area.

The other notices were served:-

For a failure to ensure the safety of a contractor required to work on or near fragile roofing material for the purposes of clearing debris from it.
In relation to damaged asbestos insulation board which had been removed during a major refurbishment project. The resulting clean up and further removal required cost thousands of pounds.
In respect of an unsupported excavation which was approximately 5 metres in depth within which people were working.

Improvement Notices
A total of two improvement notices were served in connection with:-

A failure to make adequate arrangements for ensuring that vehicles were maintained and serviced. The failure was identified as a result of an investigation into an accident.
As failure to ensure that adequate arrangements were in place to prevent employees falling through fragile materials which was also served as a result of an investigation into an accident.

July - December 2004
Prohibition Notices
A total of seventeen prohibition notices were served, fifteen of which were on companies or individuals carrying out construction-related activities.

Five notices were served in respect of inadequate guarding arrangements identified as a result of targeted inspections carried out in relation to specific machinery used in the construction industry for recycling waste building materials.
Five notices related to working at height and were as a result of a failure to provide adequate edge protection or sufficient guard rails to a working area.
Two notices were served in relation to asbestos insulation board which had been partially removed during the strip out of the interior of a building.

The other Notices were served:-

For a failure to provide a guard to a power take off (PTO) shaft
In relation to a vehicle spraying booth which had been constructed by the user but was not to the appropriate standard
For a failure to provide adequate edge protection and also to protect persons against falls through fragile material
For a failure to prevent persons working on a roof from falling through the rafters and also from one edge of the roof
In relation to an unsupported excavation created as a result of excavating for an underground car park

Improvement Notices
A total of five improvement notices were served in connection with:-

Inappropriate storage of highly flammable liquids
Insufficient training or knowledge of working with asbestos containing materials
A failure to make adequate arrangements for ensuring that drivers of particular vehicles receive suitable and sufficient training
A failure to produce a written health and safety policy
A failure to produce an adequate written health and safety policy

January - June 2005
Prohibition Notices
A total of three prohibition notices were served.

The notices were issued in relation to the following:

The cleaning of several roofs where the mobile access equipment provided was inadequate and did not enable the operatives to reach all areas. This resulted in them stepping out of the basket of the access equipment onto the roof, placing them at risk of falling from height. Although harnesses were worn, these were inappropriate for the work, and there was no suitable anchorage for the lanyards to be attached.
The failure of an organisation to ensure that all persons were adequately trained to operate fork lift trucks. It was identified that an individual with a few weeks experience, but no formal training, was operating a fork lift truck unsupervised.
A defective fork lift truck continued to be used, despite an engineer surveyor of an insurance company issuing a report following a routine 6 monthly examination indicating that there was a serious defect present. The report identified that this defect had to be remedied immediately.

Improvement Notices
No improvement notices were served during this period.

July - December 2005
Prohibition Notices
A total of five prohibition notices were served in relation to the following:

The demolition of a building which was being carried out in an unsafe manner in a public area, resulting in both the operatives being at risk of falling from a height and members of the public being placed at risk from falling items
Employees being exposed to a risk of coming into contact with moving machinery parts as a result of the interlocks on the perimter guards to a packing machine being defeated
A failure to ensure that the machine operator was protected from coming into contact with an in-running nip on a set of rollers contained in kitchen equipment
Construction workers being exposed to the risk of falling or collapsing material from the side of an excavation into a large bank approximately 6 metres in height
The failure to take adequate steps to ensure that persons were not exposed to toxic fumes during the removal of redundant pipe work

Improvement Notices
A total of five improvement notices were served in relation to the following:

A failure to ensure that the operators of fork lift trucks (FLTs)were assessed as being competent. The company had a number of operators who had varying experience but had failed to ensure that an assessment of the operator's competency had been undertaken in accordance with the The Safe Use of Rider Operated Lift Trucks - Approved Code of Practice.
Two notices for a failure to take adequate steps to ensure that operatives were not exposed to the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres. The Notices required the companies to prepare a policy document setting out the arrangements for reducing the risk of exposure.
Two notices were served on the same organisation for a failure to prepare a written health and safety policy and a failure to have sufficient arrangements in place for ensuring the safe use of display screen equipment.

January - June 2006
Prohibition Notices
A total of three prohibition notices were served in relation to the following:

A failure to take adequate steps to ensure that persons involved in the installation of large windows were protected against the risk of falling through the window opening both during the removal and installation of the window units
A failure to provide adequate protection to the open face of an excavation to prevent material falling onto persons working in close proximity to the face
The failure to take adequate steps to ensure that persons were not exposed to toxic fumes during the removal of redundant pipe work

Improvement Notices
One improvement notices were served in relation to the following:-

A failure to have sufficient arrangements in place for ensuring the safe use of display screen equipmen

July - December 2006
Prohibition Notices
A total of seven prohibition notices were served in relation to the following:

A failure to provide adequate edge protection during roof work

A failure to provide a safe system for working on a fragile roof

A failure to ensure adequate arrangements were in place to prevent persons being struck by falling material from the side of an excavation

A failure to ensure that the decontamination facilities used during asbestos removal works met the required standard

A failure to ensure that a safe system of work was in place during excavation work being carried out in close proximity to electricity cables

A failure to ensure that a safe system of work was in place during the erection of formwork/edge protection

A failure to ensure a safe system of work for persons working at height

Improvement Notices
Eight improvement notices were served in relation to the following:-

A failure to control the risk of musculoskeletal injury to a warehouse employee

A failure to assess the risks of lone working and/ or implement adequate control measures

A failure to implement a written policy on the control of violence and aggression towards staff

A failure to provide upon request a copy of a passive smoking policy

A failure to control risks from violent or aggressive incidents to employees

A failure to have effective arrangements for the suitable training of employees from being exposed to the specific risk of violence

A failure to put in place arrangements for the thorough examination of motor vehicle lifts

A failure to put in place arrangements for the thorough examination of lifting gear (including ropes) on motor vehicle lifting tables

January - June 2007
Prohibition Notices
A total of seventeen prohibition notices were served in relation to the following:

Three notices for a failure to have sufficient arrangements in place for aeriel rescue whilst carrying out tree climbing during arboriculture work
A failure to use a safe system of work with a panel (circular) saw
Two notices for a failure to wear adequate personal protective equipment whilst working with a chainsaw
A failure to provide a safe system of work for removing tree branches at high level
A failure to provide a safe system of work or edge protection for work on a flat roof
Three notices for a failure to shore an excavation
A failure to provide a safe system of work for power washing the roof of a property
A failure to provide scaffold of an appropriate standard
Four notices for a failure to remedy defects on a vehicle lifting table which were identified on the thorough examination report

Improvement Notices
Fourteen improvement notices were served in relation to the following:-

A failure to ensure that persons using fork lift trucks are suitable trained and competent to do so
A failure to set out arrangements for implementing and carrying out a safety policy
A failure to ensure periodic through examinations of the chains to a fork lift truck
Three notices for a failure to provide adequate training to operatives required to use mobile elevating work platforms in connection with arboriculture activities
Seven notices for a failure to ensure that persons using chainsaws in connection with arboriculture work were certified as competent to do so
A failure to provide information upon request in connection with the competence of employees to carry out arboriculture work with chainsaws

July - December 2007
Prohibition Notices
A total of three prohibition notices were served in relation to the following:

A failure to remedy defects on a vehicle lifting table which were identified on the thorough examination report

A failure to provide an outside man during licensed asbestos removal works

A failure to provide a safe system of work for cleaning balcony panels

Improvement Notices
Seven improvement notices were served in relation to the following:-

A failure to have effective arrangements in place for managing the maintenance of fleet vehicles

A failure to have effective arrangements in place for carrying out daily checks on critical safety issues associated with vehicle use

A failure to ensure the six monthly examination of chains to a fork lift truck was carried out

A failure to control the risks from manual handling during a shredding operation

A failure to adequately secure windows at 2m and above which could be accessed by vulnerable persons in a residential home

A failure to inspect and maintain an outdoor play area

January - June 2008
Prohibition Notices
A total of seven prohibition notices were served in relation to the following:

A failure to adequately guard a crushing machine

A failure to adequately guard a grading machine

A failure to provide adequate protection to prevent falls during chimney works

A failure to provide a ladder which was in a safe condition for use

A failure to ensure that asbestos containing materials were not disturbed during refurbishment works

A failure to provide a safe system of work for the demolition of a building

A failure to provide adequate edge protection for work on a roof

Improvement Notices
Four improvement notices were served in relation to the following:-

A failure to have adequate arrangements in place for the assessment of work stations

A failure to have adequate arrangements in place for ensuring the safety of glazing in premises

A failure to ensure that the competency of fork lift truck operators has been assessed

A failure to ensure that a fork lift truck has been thoroughly examined