Working Well Together safety campaign signs World Cup star

HSE Press Release C042:02 - 16 September 2002

Winners in construction safety will get the chance to meet one of football's all-time greats, Sir Geoff Hurst, at the Working Well Together (WWT) 4Cs construction safety awards in Birmingham.

The 2002 awards are sponsored by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), and as well as being open to both large and small firms, there is also a special free-to-enter award for an individual in the construction industry who has made a significant contribution to safety. In addition, a new small firms award for commitment has been introduced for 2002, reflecting the key role of smaller organisations in the industry.

Winners will receive their awards at a prestigious gala dinner on 28 November at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, where Sir Geoff will be a guest speaker.

Sir Geoff is internationally renowned for his role in England's 1966 World Cup victory, when he scored a hat trick - an achievement not matched in any other World Cup final. Commenting on the WWT awards, he said: "It's great to be a winner, as I know from a career in football."

"The Working Well Together construction safety awards are about winning too. While we can't promise a trophy for every firm short listed, we reckon they're already winners, because they have found real ways to keep their 'teams' safe and healthy at work. I'd like to wish all of the entrants in the 2002 awards the very best of luck."

Notes to editors

1. The WWT 4Cs awards is a national contest, first held in 2000. Organisations of any size can enter the awards, with entrants automatically becoming members of the WWT campaign, if they are not already signed up. The 2002 Awards are sponsored by CITB and are open to all areas of the construction industry and related fields, such as architecture and equipment supply. Organisations can enter for any or all of the categories to show how they have demonstrated commitment, competence, co-operation and communication, (the 4Cs). The judging panel consists of representatives of the industry, sponsors, unions and HSE.

2. The WWT Campaign is the country's largest construction health and safety campaign, with over 4,000 participating organisations. It was launched by the Health and Safety Commission's Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) in 1999. WWT aims to improve performance in four key areas for health and safety - commitment, competence, communication and co-operation.

3. Provisional figures for 2001/02 show that there were 79 fatal injuries to construction workers, accounting for 32 per cent of all worker fatalities. The provisional figures show 47 per cent of fatal injuries to workers in construction between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002 were caused by falls from height; 15 per cent - struck by a moving/falling object; 14 per cent - struck by a moving vehicle; 24 per cent - other. The WWT campaign was formed with the aim of reducing the horrific toll of deaths and injuries in the construction industry.

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