'Unsafe' NI building sites shut

The campaign targeted standards on sites

Twenty building sites in Northern Ireland had to be shut down during safety inspections this month because of the dangers they posed to workers.

The figure was revealed by the Health and Safety Executive who said it was "appalled" at the standards its staff discovered on building sites.

Five workers were killed in accidents on building sites in the province last year.

During the past month, the executive stopped work on almost a third of the 70 sites it visited until safety matters had been addressed.

Any slip at all and these men would have lost their lives

Ken Logan

Most of the notices were served on housing and apartment block building sites.

The executive's campaign was designed to prevent death and serious injury to construction workers and was particularly aimed at safety whilst working at heights.

'No precautions'

Ken Logan, who co-ordinated the inspections, said it was time the construction industry cleaned up its act.

"I could give you an example of men working on a three-storey building, recovering slates," he said.

"This building was going to be demolished with no safety precautions actually in place.

"Any slip at all and these men would have lost their lives.

"Three men, potentially could have been killed."

Government agencies

Tony Doran, managing director of the Construction Employers' Federation, said the industry recognised there was a great deal to be done to improve health and safety.

"In the last three years we have come a long way in improving standards and the industry is working with the executive and other government agencies to do that," he said.

The industry's tendency to seek the best price for projects did not put safety "at the top of the agenda", he said.

However, that approach was changing and would be aided by the executive's inspections, said Mr Doran.

"We, with the clients and the other agencies, have to improve standards and I think this will be a very positive step in that direction."

The federation represents about 500 firms and is responsible for up to 90% of the building work in the province.