Yesterday we went to a construction site in London to carry out a site inspection for a client. From the first impressions it was clear that some of the basic level of control was missing.

The key here is that first impressions are all important; particularly to a HSE inspector. If they visit or walk by a site and see a mess what are they likely to think?

Maybe too many people get tied down by what they see as the sheer enormity of health & safety regulations; without considering the basics. The Government has been championing the application of common sense which should be a good thing. However it seems to us that too many people seem unable to apply this approach.

Feedback to our client is that the site managers need to be reminded of how to control basic issues such as security, housekeeping, trailing cables and safe access routes. Get this right and it sets the tone of the site that the workers understand.

Clearly the starting point has to be the right level of training followed up by an inspection regime that keeps managers and workers on their toes. Keeping an awareness and control of the basics will go a long way to keeping a workplace safe.