Failure to provide suitable welfare facilities on building sites and safe use of tower scaffolding are just two areas where the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have witnessed varying standards of quality as part of their inspection campaign of refurbishment sites in North Wales.

There were five deaths in construction in Wales in 2006/07, and three of those were in relation to refurbishment work.

HSE inspector Debbie John, who has been working on the inspection purge said: "The level of fatal and serious accidents in refurbishment work in the construction industry is just not acceptable. More can be done and should be done to improve safety standards. We will be checking these standards and taking strong action where appropriate."

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The HSE construction team for North Wales, based in Wrexham, have so far carried out a number of spot checks on building sites across the area, and are continuing to do so. Contractors failing to meet the required safety standards can expect strong enforcement action taken against them.

The inspections have revealed varying standards in the erection and use of tower scaffolding. This is particularly important because working at height last year killed 23 construction workers, and it is imperative that construction firms get this right.

There is also inconsistency amongst construction firms in providing adequate welfare facilities such as washing areas and toilets, drinking water, rest areas and changing rooms. These are required under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007' which came into force last year.

(JM)