'Constructing better health' service provider and fundholder announced

HSC press release C002:04 - 15 January 2004

Plans for the construction industry occupational health support pilot scheme 'Constructing Better Health' took another step nearer fruition this week, following the Action Forum's agreement of a preferred provider and a fundholder for the scheme.

On Monday 12 January 2004, the Action Forum - set up by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC)'s Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) announced Sypol as the preferred provider for the occupational health support pilot. B&CE Benefit Schemes will act as the administrative body to hold and pay out funds for the scheme for the duration of the project through its charitable trust.

Trevor Walker, speaking on behalf of the Action Forum, said: "This is very welcome news for the industry and we are looking forward to working in partnership with both organisations to achieve the aims of the pilot scheme. The agreement of both a preferred provider and a fundholder means the groundwork for the pilot scheme has been firmly laid.

"We can now start developing the details of how and where the pilot will operate, begin the fundraising process in the knowledge that we have a sound business model, a secure home for the funds, and robust governance arrangements in place to ensure they are spent wisely. We will be looking widely for contributions from the industry, government and other sources."

Brian Griffiths, chief executive, B&CE said: "As a not-for-profit organisation, B&CE fully supports this pilot. We are delighted to be able to offer the use of our expertise and resources."

Kevin Myers, HSE Chief Inspector of Construction and CONIAC Chair, said: "This marks an important step forwards for this exciting scheme and for occupational health in the industry in general. This pilot will deliver real benefits to the industry, and test the design for an occupational health support scheme with national coverage."

Notes to editors

1. Constructing Better Health is an initiative to pilot a regional occupational health support service that offers free advice and support to construction projects in an agreed area. It aims to offer employees and employers best-practice management solutions to reduce exposure to key health risks. It will allow construction employers to receive free on-site risk assessments and provide a source of free advice and guidance for employers and workers, as well as a gateway to further specialist support, if required. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is facilitating the project.

2. Action Forum Members:

1. George Brumwell - Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians
2. Frazer Clement - Construction Industry Training Board
3. Mike Cosman - Health and Safety Executive
4. Ian Davis - Federation of Master Builders
5. Rodger Evans - Department of Trade and Industry
6. Carl Gebhard - Association of British Insurers
7. Trevor Walker - Construction Confederation

3. Sypol is one of the UK's leading health, safety and environmental specialists. Established since 1979, they are an independent company that provides practical straightforward advice and information to industry. With offices in Aylesbury, Dunfermline and Belfast and partners throughout Europe, Sypol's client base is varied including major organisations in construction, healthcare, utilities, finance and local government as well as a large number of smaller companies, trade associations and industry bodies.

4. Sypol will be working in partnership with Business Healthcare to operate the Pilot Scheme. Business Healthcare is a leading provider of occupational healthcare across the industrial community in Britain offering its clients a wide variety of service ranging from a full occupational health programme to one-off medical examinations. It has mobile health screening and surveillance units and a dedicated radiography (X-Ray) service.

5. B&CE are the largest supplier of financial services and employee benefits to the UK's construction industry. Almost 8,000 employers use B&CE to provide employee benefits for over 250,000 individuals. They provide the UK's most popular stakeholder pension - with over 250,000 members - and have over £1 billion under management. The B&CE Charitable Trust has three main objectives: education and training in, and research into, occupational health and safety in building and civil engineering industries; education, training and retraining for operatives, past operatives and young people; relief of beneficiaries who are in need by virtue of their poverty, sickness or distress. The trustees meet several times during the year to examine cases.

6. The Action Forum is a body that has been tasked to deliver the Occupational Health Support Pilot Scheme. Members were nominated by the HSC's CONIAC to represent the construction industry.

7. Proposal and Scoping/Specification for a Feasibility Study into the Establishment of a Comprehensive Occupational Health Scheme in the Construction Industry (Sypol/Lawrence Waterman): http://www.hse.gov.uk/hthdir/noframes/construct.pdf [100kb]

8. National Occupational Support Scheme of the Construction Industry: An Initial Feasibility Study (Amey Vectra Ltd): http://www.hse.gov.uk/hthdir/noframes/support.pdf [630kb]

Press enquiries

All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office