Small construction sites welcome White Van Health and Safety Roadshow

HSC press release: C012:04 - 30 March 2004

The White Van Roadshow has proved a real success in delivering health and safety messages to small construction sites. The Working Well Together (WWT) White Van Roadshow visited over 60 small construction sites and almost 1900 site workers across the country during March 2004.

The pilot Roadshow, part of the WWT campaign, sponsored by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), tested the effectiveness of the White Van as a way of communicating essential health and safety messages on smaller sites.

The response for volunteer sites outstripped demand and managers at all the sites visited thought the White Van would have a positive impact on site health and safety.

Two of three fatal accidents happen on smaller sites, but 'injuries and ill health can be avoided' was the main message of the Roadshow. Along with hearing loss and different types of safety harnesses demonstrations, the Roadshow featured a video presentation highlighting the most significant health and safety hazards on construction sites. The video majored on the 'High 5' issues: the basics - tidy sites and decent welfare; falls from height; manual handling; transport and asbestos. Information about the 'High 5' was available in six languages.

Mick Smith, Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) Eastern regional health and safety adviser visited the roadshow in East Anglia and commented: "The High 5 priorities in video format gave short, sharp impact and was very welcome."

Kevin Myers, HSE's Chief Inspector of Construction said: "It is important to communicate directly with workers exposed to the risks and their managers. They together are best placed to make construction sites safer and less likely to damage health. The commitment shown by those who nominated their sites for a White Van visit is impressive. The pilot will be evaluated and we are hopeful it will run again later this year".

Notes to editors

1. The White Van Roadshow press release 'Roadshow helps reduce risk in construction' can be viewed on the HSE website at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2004/c04008.htm

2. The High 5 leaflet is downloadable from the HSE website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg384.pdf Translations in Polish, Turkish, Russian, Portuguese, Urdu and Punjabi were available on the White Van, copies can be requested from Denise Lewisohn.

3. Everyone who visited the White Van got a free WWT Essential Survival Kit, including a copy of the High 5 leaflet, The Essential Health and Safety Toolkit, a t-shirt, an insulated mug and a builder's pencil.

4. Photographs of the White Van at a site can be requested from Denise Lewisohn.

Press enquiries

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