George Brumwell launches 2004 Construction Health and Safety Roadshow in Glasgow

HSC press release C039:04 30 August 2004

George Brumwell, Health and Safety Commissioner and General Secretary of UCATT, today launched the 2004 "Working Well Together" Health and Safety Roadshow at Glasgow Harbour, an area undergoing major redevelopment in Scotland.

The Roadshow, featuring an interactive walk-through display, is taking key health and safety advice to construction workers and employers at sites across Great Britain over the next eight weeks.

The Working Well Together Campaign promotes best practice and encourages everyone in the industry - workers, supervisors, managers and directors - to take action to improve health and safety performance.

Sponsored by HSS Hire, with additional sponsorship from Bovis Lend Lease, CITB Construction Skills, Skanska and Taylor Woodrow, the Roadshow is also supported by
Constructing Excellence, Trades Union Congress, Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

In launching the Roadshow, George Brumwell, said:

"During one week in August the industry tragically lost five construction workers: two of these deaths occurred in Scotland.

"Each workplace death is one too many, especially as incidents are often caused by foreseeable risks. There is no room for complacency.

"The Roadshow aims to prevent injuries and ill health by delivering vital information and advice to construction workers. The support for the Working Well Together Roadshow, is a positive sign that the industry is working together to further improve its health and safety record."

The construction industry can be a dangerous place to work. Last year 70 construction workers died - 4 of the deaths occurred in Scotland - and many thousands more were injured or suffered from health problems. Since the beginning of April this year, 27 construction deaths have been reported to the HSE - 6 of which occurred in Scotland.

Speaking from the launch HSE's Principal Inspector, Martin Thurgood, said:

"At today's event HSE is also launching "Building in Safety", the 2004 European Week of Safety and Health initiative. "Building in Safety" is a European wide campaign. In acknowledging the construction industry as one of the most hazardous across Europe the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work is working with stakeholders to build a safer, healthier and more productive working environment for the millions of European construction workers".

This year, the Roadshow is focusing on some key ways to reduce on-site risks:

• Tidy sites and decent welfare;
• Safe working at height;
• Reducing the risks of workplace transport accidents;
• Safety in manual handling; and
• Health - protecting hearing, avoiding skin problems such as dermatitis, cement burns and skin cancer; and
• Avoiding exposure to asbestos.

Pam Waldron, HSE Head of Field Operations responsible for construction in Scotland, said:

"Whilst last year we saw a very welcome reduction in the number of construction related fatalities in Scotland, sadly we have already exceeded this figure since April 2004. In response HSE has commissioned research to identify the factors leading to higher rates of construction fatalities and major incidents in Scotland.

"What we do know is that sites like these at Glasgow Harbour, where health and safety is proactively managed and both sub-contractors and employees are informed and involved, create a safer and healthier environment."

Thousands more workers are expected to visit the WWT Roadshow display as it visits construction sites throughout Scotland, Wales and England over the next eight weeks.

On each site, workers can walk through an informative display on the 'High 5' ways to reduce risks, receive an 'Absolutely Essential Survival Kit' and enter the WWT Roadshow competition by completing a health and safety quiz.

Now in its sixth year, the WWT Roadshow has reached over 25,000 workers with its health and safety messages.

Notes to editors

1. There were 70 fatal injuries to workers in 2003/04, which is 30% of the total of work place fatalities (235) in Great Britain, the same level as 2002/3. The number of fatal injuries to employees in 2003/4 fell from 56 to 51. The number of deaths to the self employed rose from 14 to 19.

2. The regional breakdown of fatal injuries to construction workers in 2003/4 is:

Wales and South West: 8 East and South East: 7 London: 14 Midlands: 13 York and North East: 14 North West: 10 Scotland: 4 TOTAL 70

3. The WWT Roadshow tour dates are:

30 Aug - 3 September: Scotland 6 - 10 September: North East, North West & Yorks 20 - 24 September: Midlands 27 Sept - 1 October: Wales and South West 11 - 15 October: South East 18 - 22 October: London

4. On August 19 2004, a 46-year-old construction worker was fatally electrocuted when the vehicle he was unloading came into contact with overhead cables in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire. On 22 August 2004 a 45-year-old construction worker was fatality injured during the demolition of a disused flourmill in Leith Docks, Edinburgh.

5. Working Well Together (WWT) is the country's leading construction health and safety campaign, supported by the construction industry, trade unions and the Health and Safety Executive. For further information check out the WWT Campaign website at wwt.uk.com.
To join WWT call 0845 27 27 500.

6. Building in Safety / European week of safety and health will take place 18 - 22 October 2004, further information can be obtained from the website http://ew2004.osha.europa.eu

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