HSC WELCOMES CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE SAFETY & HEALTH PERFORMANCE

HSC press release C003:03 - 3 February 2003

Britain's builders are making an industry-wide effort to reduce its high rate of accidents and improve occupational health. A series of Safety & Health Awareness Days, 'Help for the industry from the industry', is being held around the country throughout February and March.

Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health & Safety Commission (HSC), said today that he was encouraged to see the construction industry working together to improve its health and safety performance.

Mr Callaghan said: "These safety and health awareness days are an excellent example of how the industry can work together to improve its health and safety performance."

"It is only by working together that we will see the recent improvements in the construction industry fatality statistics be converted into a real trend for improvement. A sustained effort from industry is required to secure year-on-year improvements."

In 2001/02 the number of fatal injuries to workers in the construction industry fell to 79 from the previous year when 105 people died while at work. In the last ten years a total of 948 people have died and many thousands more have sustained a major injury or a health problem due to unsafe work practices in the construction industry.

The Safety & Health Awareness Days are aimed at small contractors who employ fewer than 16 people and the self-employed, who together make up 83% of the industry, giving them the opportunity to find out about the latest developments in improving health and safety.

Mr Callaghan said: "These awareness days represent an ideal opportunity for small builders to learn more about safety and health at work. Large companies are playing their role in helping smaller players by conveying key safety and health messages."

The events are practical and include demonstrations and the latest information on a variety of topics including working safely at height, roof work, using ladders, manual handling, safe loading and handling, safe use of power tools, asbestos identification, cable finding and building collapses.

Each event has been organised locally by a partnership including the Federation of Master Builders, Working Well Together groups, members of Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Construction Group and health and safety professionals from large local construction companies, with support from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The events are being held on 6th February at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston near Edinburgh; on 11th February at the Aberdeen Exhibition Centre, Aberdeen and at Filton, Bristol; and on the 12th February at the Newcastle Racecourse in Newcastle.

Additional events will be held on 4th March at Beverley Racecourse, East Yorkshire; 11th March at Askham Bryan Agricultural College near York; 21st March at Newark Showground Nottinghamshire; and 26th March at Epsom Racecourse in Surrey.

If you are in the industry and employ fewer than 16 people or are self-employed and would like to know more about these events, information is available on the Working Well Together website wwt.uk.com

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