Safety concerns stop work on Oban construction site
HEALTH and safety inspectors have stopped work on an Oban building site after concerns were raised with the watchdog.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is ‘responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare’, confirmed inspectors had attended MacLeod Construction’s Glenshellach site in Oban and that two prohibition notices had been served on the developer.
HSE said on Tuesday it had also received concerns regarding work at other MacLeod Construction sites in Argyll and Bute, and ‘is currently making further inquiries at this time’.
The independent body explains on its website: ‘HSE inspectors normally enforce health and safety standards by giving advice on how to comply with the law. Sometimes we must order people to make improvements by issuing them with a notice, either an Improvement Notice which allows time for the recipient to comply, or a Prohibition Notice which prohibits an activity until remedial action has been taken.’
HSE said it could not comment further due to the notices being in the appeal period and that ‘following this they will be readily available for public view on HSE’s enforcement database’.
A spokesperson for MacLeod Construction, which is based in Lochgilphead, said: ‘I confirm that MacLeod Construction Limited is very proactive in abiding by health and safety regulations and in training our staff to carry out safe working procedures on all sites.
‘Health and safety begins at planning stage and our developments are designed in such a way as they are compliant with health and safety regulations.
‘We not only have an independent health and safety consultant but have in-house staff fully trained in health and safety procedures.
‘Health and safety features on the agenda of weekly site agent meetings.
‘We work closely with the Health and Safety Executive and welcome their visits to our sites.
‘We appreciate the advice and assistance given to the construction industry by the Health and Safety Executive.’