Free event to empower young apprentices to avoid death, injury and ill-health at work

Date:

10 May 2012

Release No:

SCO/002/12

Young construction apprentices in Aberdeen are to receive lifesaving advice at a free event raising awareness of death, injury and ill health in the workplace.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive and leading members of the construction industry will offer practical tips and guidance on how to prevent incidents while carrying out key activities on site.

The event, on Wednesday, 16 May at Gordon Barracks, Bridge of Don, is being run in conjunction with the Construction Safety Forum - a local self help forum which meets monthly to allow members to share experiences and receive simple, practical advice and documentation designed for small and medium-sized construction companies in the North East.

The construction industry remains one of the most dangerous sectors to work in, with 960 injuries to workers in Scotland in 2010/11 - including one fatality.

The aim of the event is not only to raise awareness of the key health and safety issues facing the construction industry but to also give apprentices practical advice on how to avoid risks on all sites.

Workshops will cover high risk construction activities including working at height and manual handling, as well as information on the risks from asbestos and other dusts, and the steps that can be taken to prevent exposure.

HSE Inspector Liz Standen, said:

"It is essential that new recruits to this historically hazardous industry are made aware of current health and safety benchmarks and are empowered to challenge unsafe behaviours in their own workplace. It aims to make apprentices understand their role in improving health and safety standards and preventing accidents and ill health in a practical hands-on way."

To encourage participation a competition is being run to find the best idea to improve health and safety on a construction site. The winner will receive a £100 Gadget Shop voucher, which will be presented by winter Olympic athlete Andrew Young from Huntly. He represented Great Britain at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games and is a member of the GB Cross Country Ski Team.

Liz added:

"We hope that the young workers will relate to Andrew, someone their own age who can inspire them to take responsibility for their actions. This is a key message throughout the safety event, and athletes have to be very self-motivated."

Places are still available to attend this event, although bookings are made on a first come first served basis. For more information and to reserve a place please call 07767 844 196.

Notes to editors

1. The event is being run from 9am - 4.30 pm at Gordon Barracks, Ellon Road, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB23 8DB.
2. Guidance and advice on how to reduce risks in the construction industry can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm which includes free downloadable guidance such as "Health and Safety in Construction HSG 150"
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. http://www.hse.gov.uk/
4. During 2010/11, one worker died while working in construction across Scotland, and there were 959 major injuries to construction workers reported to HSE. These, and further statistics, can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics.
5. Scottish Apprenticeship Week runs from 21-25th May: http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/scottish-apprenticeship-week-2012.aspx
6. For more information on the Construction Safety Forum contact Secretary Ryan Milne, 07775 820752; email: Ryan.Milne@gallifordtry.co.uk
7. Information on the British Nordic Development Squad, including the GB Cross Country Ski Team, is available at www.bnds.org.uk

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by the Regional News Network