Safety initiative targets region's small construction sites

Date:

1 October 2010

Release No:

HSE/NW/14constructionsafety

A new safety initiative targeting small-scale building projects is being launched across Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show two thirds of all construction deaths in the North West, and more than half of the serious injuries, occur in the two counties.

During the next six months, HSE inspectors specialising in construction will be visiting short-duration building projects to offer support and advice to workers and contractors.

The inspection team which is taking part in the construction initiative

The new initiative will focus on projects which are being carried out on domestic properties, where health and safety may not ordinarily be a top priority.

Company owners and their employees will also be encouraged to attend one of a series of ten free health and safety awareness events to help improve standards in the industry. The first event will take place in Wigan on Thursday 7 October.

Neil Jamieson, Principal Inspector at HSE in the North West, said:

"Construction is one of Britain's most dangerous industries so we want to do all we can to offer support and advice to construction companies and their employees.

"The focus of this six-month initiative is to offer tips on improving health and safety on sites, but we will take action in cases where there is a high risk of injury or ill health.

"There are many risks to workers on construction sites, from falling off roofs to the inhalation of harmful substances such as asbestos or silica dust, causing life threatening health problems."

During the previous five years, there have been 41 deaths and 7,691 serious injuries in the construction industry across the North West, including 27 deaths and 4,130 serious injuries in Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

More information on construction safety is available at www.hse.gov.uk/construction

Notes to editors

1. The safety awareness events are due to be held at Wigan Territorial Army Centre on 7 October, Clifton TA Centre in Salford on 19 October, Warrington TA Centre on 4 November, Failsworth TA Centre in Manchester on 17 November, Congleton Town Hall on 30 November, Chester TA Centre on 11 January, Chorlton High School in Manchester on 27 January, Tameside on 1 February, Stockport Council Chambers on 16 February, and Crewe TA Centre on 16 March.
2. The following table lists the number of deaths and serious injuries in the construction industry, in each local authority area in Greater Manchester and Cheshire during the five years between 2004/5 and 2008/9. Three-day injuries refer to injuries which required workers to take at least three days off work.
   

   Local authority area	Deaths	Major injuries	3-day injuries
   Cheshire	10	403	720
   Chester	2	49	103
   Congleton	0	18	30
   Crewe & Nantwich	0	43	89
   Ellesmere Port and Neston	0	26	45
   Halton	1	48	83
   Macclesfield	3	70	117
   Vale Royal	0	48	80
   Warrington	4	101	173
   Greater Manchester	17	1,091	1,916
   Bolton	3	101	166
   Bury	0	49	69
   Manchester	6	390	623
   Oldham	1	69	164
   Rochdale	0	79	124
   Salford	1	98	209
   Stockport	2	78	149
   Tameside	0	51	107
   Trafford	1	77	144
   Wigan	3	99	161
   Total	27	1,494	2,636

3. 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 and PR North West