Date of article: 08/10/2007
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An action plan to cut workplace deaths and improve health and safety standards has been agreed by representatives of the construction industry and the trade unions.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain convened the Construction Forum in London to address health and safety practices in the housing and refurbishment sector following the recent 28% increase in construction deaths.
The Forum, held at the Thistle Hotel Charing Cross, was attended by Government, the HSE, trade unions, industry bodies, suppliers, and contractors.
Peter Hain said:
"House and infrastructure building is booming; but I refuse to tolerate a parallel increase in construction deaths and injury. I am resolutely committed to halting the recent surge in construction deaths.
"Construction is our biggest industry and will be crucial to our continued economic growth and success. The Olympics, a huge house building programme, new schools and hospitals, and regeneration of our cities depended on the hard-working men and women who work in this industry. We must give them the protection they deserve and have a right to. Loss of life must not be the price of our future success.
"Figures out last week showed that nearly one in three construction refurbishment sites inspected by the HSE put the lives of workers at risk - this is completely unacceptable. The HSE stopped work at 244 of the sites immediately. But health and safety should never have been compromised in the first place.
"Today we've made a significant step fprward. The forum has agreed a clear framework for action to cut this appalling number of deaths and reverse this deadly trend.
"The construction industry must take ownership and work side-by-side with trade unions and Government to take action and drive down these unacceptable deaths."
Key areas for action agreed at the forum today include:
. sharing best practice - working together to agree standards of health and safety to be achieved on housebuilding and domestic repair/refurbishment projects:
. raising levels of competence - extending the requirement for all site workers in the housebuilding sector to carry a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or be able to demonstrate their occupational and health and safety competence to the same or better standard; and ensuring all workers receive induction training before they start work on a new site;
. encouraging worker involvement - ensuring that all projects include trades union and worker representatives;
. integrated working - ensuring that site specific planning and induction is provided to all those in control of tower crane erection, operation and dismantling, with an emphasis on appropriate risk assessment
. steps to drive out the informal economy in the sector, which can impact health and safety
John Spanswick, Group Chairman Bovis Lendlease and Chairman of the Strategic Forum Health and Safety Group, said:
"If we are really going to change the culture and behaviour in relation to health and safety, it will require senior people from all stakeholders to demonstrate proactive leadership. There have been some significant successes over the last few years in parts of the industry; it is important that we not only continue to build on this, but set the bar higher."
The strategic Forum Health and Safety Task Group will be asked to coordinate the development of the Framework. The Task Group will report on progress to Ministers by the end of the year.
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