HSE suspends routine inspections

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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has stopped all routine inspections amid safety fears over the coronavirus outbreak.

It’s understood the HSE will continue to respond to serious issues but it has limited contact between individuals to ensure it is following government advice.

It has halted work that cannot be completed from home, aside from essential tasks.

An HSE spokesperson told the Construction News that the organisation “remains committed to responding to any serious issues that arise, in construction or any other sector, and our enforcement priorities have not changed”.

“However, in line with government guidance to cease all but essential work that cannot be done outside of the home, minimising contact between individuals, HSE has paused all proactive inspections at this time to reduce any risk posed to our own staff and to members of the public,” he said.

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