Deaths prompt white van safety roadshow

Date:

3 June 2010

Release No:

COILDN10106

A white van with a difference will set off on a two-week safety tour of major construction sites in the South East region on Monday 7th June.

The White Van Roadshow will highlight the potential dangers in the construction industry, after 14 construction workers were killed in the South East in 2008/09.

The tour will see advisors from the construction industry and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visit five sites in the South East; Newbury, Newhaven, Maidenhead, Rochester and Coulsden. They will focus on the risks from untidy sites, working at height, manual handling, transport, asbestos and other dust-related diseases.

Representatives from leading companies in the construction industry will be among those attending the events, which will include the practical demonstrations on new safety equipment.

Tim Shambrook, HSE Project manager, said: "The White Van Roadshow is the perfect way to reach out to the industry and educate workers on how simple steps can prevent serious accidents.

"The aim of the tour is to be engaging and show construction workers that we understand the pressures of working on a construction site but that cutting corners when it comes to health and safety is never a good idea.

"We have got an exciting two weeks ahead of us and I am looking forward to spending a day at each site and speaking to on-site workers about the risks they face and how to reduce them."

The White Van Roadshow has been organised as part of the Working Well Together initiative - a partnership between HSE and the construction industry - which aims to improve health and safety in the sector.

Notes to editors

1. The White Van Roadshow will be visiting the following locations:
   • Monday 7th June - Costain Northbrook Road, Newbury
   • Tuesday 8th June - Water Treatment Works, Newhaven
   • Wednesday 9th June - Maidenhead Museum
   • Thursday 10th June - Speedy Depot Strood, Rochester
   • Friday 18th June - Willmott Dixon Coulsdon College, Placehouse Lane, Coulsdon Surrey CR5 1LA
2. Working Well Together (WWT) launched May 1999 with a red London bus touring major cities around the country. The bus tour was later changed to a 40' trailer touring large construction sites for 6-8 weeks every year. Later the trailer was replaced by the White Van Tour. The white van is kitted out with TVs and DVD players as well as demonstration and seating areas. The tour is mainly run by regional WWT groups or which there are now 15 groups nationally.
3. Safety, Health & Awareness Days (SHADs) were introduced in 2002 and we've now had over 25,000 delegates attend. In fact over 41,000 workers have attended the national and local roadshows. WWT holds around 35-40 events, such as SHADs, breakfast briefings, Designer Awareness days and stands at Builders Merchants, Trade fairs, around the UK every year.
4. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News & PR (London & South East)