Construction industry dangers highlighted at North East event

Date:

12 January 2012

Release No:

NE/005/12

Builders in the North East are being encouraged to attend a training event to get to grips with health and safety in one of Britain's most dangerous industries.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and industry partners have organised the event as part of the UK-wide Working Well Together (WWT) campaign and it will take place at The Durham Centre, Belmont Industrial Estate, Durham on Tuesday 24 January 2012.

The event will include talks and practical demonstrations covering a range of topics including:

• The risks from working with Silica dust
• Working from height
• "The basics" such as tidy sites and decent welfare facilities
• Hand arm vibration

Rob Hirst, HSE Principal Inspector for the Construction Division in the North East, said:

"It is through events like this that HSE is working with the industry to help rid construction of its reputation as one of Britain's most dangerous industries.

"The aim of the event is not only to raise awareness of key health and safety issues facing the construction industry, but also to give practical advice on how to avoid risks on construction sites, in particular during refurbishment works.

"Previous events have been very well received and we would advise companies to book their place early to avoid disappointment."

The construction event costs £15 and delegates can choose to book either a morning (9am-noon) or afternoon (1.30-4pm) session.

Delegates who book a place will qualify for one of two subsidised UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) Accredited workshops - Asbestos Awareness Training or Risk Assessment - to be held on the same day for a cost of £10 per person (the usual cost is £55).

There will also be a free exhibition with distributors and suppliers of new equipment, services, ideas and solutions.

For more information or a booking form please contact Vikki Munro at Working Well Together NE on 0191 274 5567 email cetgne@aol.com.

Latest figures show that between April 2010 and March 2011, there were 171 fatalities across Great Britain, including 50 in the construction industry alone. In the North East there were two construction workers died, 132 suffered major injuries and 255 suffered injuries that require more than three days absence from work.

Approximately 4,000 people across Britain die each year due to asbestos-related diseases and in the North East, 1,446 people died from asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma during the period from 1998 to 2008.

Notes to editors

1. 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
2. The Working Well Together (WWT) partnership in the North East is made up of more than 20 regional organisations, some of which can be found on the "Partners" page of the WWT North East regional group web pages. For more information about Working Well Together North East log onto the website at www.wwt.uk.com

Press enquiries

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

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR (North East)