Authority warns builders on safety regulations

Eight people have died in construction-related accidents so far this year, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) said today.

The authority described the trend as "worrying" and warned builders they only a few weeks left to implement new safety regulations which come into effect on June 1st.

The regulations will make it obligatory for workers in a range of specialist areas such as mobile crane operation, excavator operation, and certain types of roofing, to carry a card displaying their skills details.

The regulations also make it mandatory for all project supervisors to ensure that only Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cardholders are allocated such tasks.

The HSA warned that "those not in compliance by that date risk enforcement action by the Authority's construction inspectors".

"The message is clear" says Mr Jim Heffernan, senior HSA inspector, "Employees carrying out the specialist tasks referred to in the regulations must have the appropriate training."

"And this is the rule which must be enforced by all project supervisors if they want to avoid enforcement action by our inspectors," he said.

The HSA said last year 21 people died in accidents on building sites. In only four months this year eight people have already been killed.

"These worrying statistics leave us in no doubt as to the importance of the new requirements and should serve as a timely reminder to all in the industry of the important deadline which is looming," said Mr Heffernan.