Health and Safety - construction workers again
It would be great if there was a straightforward advice page on the LBH web site explaining who is responsible for what sections of H&S (local authority/ HSE) and the urgent contact numbers to report something as it is happening.Because of the photographs I have been taking of pavement damage I have recorded a few dangerous practices in construction workers safety as the workers do their jobs on the streets of Hounslow. I would like to say the photos are gems, but they are, in reality, very common sights.This morning I went past a young lad working at Gunnersbury roundabout using one of those (awful) grinders with his face fully into the sparks flying off the grinder. Drivers were looking on anxiously as they didn't want the sparks to hit their cars and he was working with no protective face gear. It is a real worry to see a young lad (or any worker) being told to work in a dangerous way, or being allowed to work in a situation where he might be harmed during the course of his work.Normally there is a cloud of dust and debris flying into the air when one of these grinders is being used - you can see the worker from a distance in the middle of a dust cloud - today it was in the middle of flying sparks.This sort of working is known about. When 2 officials came for a visit about the pavements there was a worker in the middle of one of these dust clouds outside in the street - the officials walked in a wide arc away from the dust (they did have suits on).On another visit with another two LBH officials there were some Thames Water workers attacking a paving slab with such a grinder and we had to move away to continue our conversation, as it was so loud. There was not a protective piece of clothing in sight. I went up to the workers and asked them about it and they said the equipment supplied is not suitable for the job so it is left on the lorry, as they work.Photograph from this morning and current construction site to follow.
Sarah Felstead ● 6534d4 Comments