Building a safer industry
December 1st 2007

Following the lowest recorded figure for construction deaths in 2005/06 (60), fatalities jumped dramatically to 77 in 2006/07. Georgina Bisby asks Stephen Williams, the HSE's chief inspector of construction, what went wrong and what's to be done about it

According to Williams, the pressure to complete on time and on budget can mean the health and safety message is overshadowed by commercial concerns, particularly in an industry where SMEs make up the majority. In some cases, he says health and safety is ignored altogether. So why not increase random inspections? Williams says that is not the answer.

"There would need to be such a huge increase in resources to make it possible to inspect everywhere," he says. "And it doesn't say much about the industry if it will only behave itself when closely policed." Williams questions what this attitude says about the moral

argument for health and safety.

HSE budget cuts aside, Williams says it is unrealistic – and unproductive - to allow the debate over construction safety to be dominated by how many inspectors are operating in the field. To maximise available resources, inspections will be more targetted in 2008 with the refurbishment sector a priority. "This is one of the sectors most neglected areas, which we will address beginning in February with a strong and targeted campaign."

For the industry as a whole, Williams says efforts must be made to encourage industry-wide cultural change, and this was the principle focus of September's Construction Forum. Attended by government, the HSE, trade unions, industry bodies, suppliers and contractors, the forum culminated in a five point action plan:

• sharing best practice
• encouraging worker participation
• integrated working
• taking steps to drive out the informal economy in the sector
• raising levels of competence

The issue of competence is of particular importance says Williams. "Labour is being pulled in so quickly and small firms are taking on increasingly bigger jobs that people without the experience and competence are being pushed into positions of responsibility that they're not ready for."

He says this is where initiatives such as the Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs), part of the HSE's Working Well Together campaign, can achieve results. The regional

format enables the HSE to communicate to small businesses and sole traders (who can attend free of charge), and suggest measures to improve health, safety and welfare arrangements while providing a feedback mechanism. These campaigns will continue to feature strongly in the HSE's stategy for 2008.

Additionally, the construction skills certification scheme, available in several languages www.constructionskills.net is seeing an increased uptake and provides an easy way to evaluate worker competence.

Addressing falls from height (which remains the biggest cause of workplace accidents), the HSE will also launch a new slips, trips and falls campaign in February which it says will have particular relevance to the construction industry. This will run along side an asbestos awareness campaign.

Beyond campaigning and awareness events the HSE is making the analysis of accident potential a priority. This involves the study of not just accidents where there were actual victims but also accidents where potential victims have been identified.

Olympian task

Williams points out that construction is the UK's biggest industry, and crucial to our continued economic growth.

He is realistic enough to accept that current problems will never fully disappear but sees high-profile projects such as the Olympics as huge opportunities to showcase the highest standards in health and safety and lever the rest of the industry.

Forming one of the five key themes for the Olympic Development Authority, health and safety has been a priority from the design stage. A high impact early intervention strategy includes the provision of on-site occupational health services for all companies working on the project.

Although this year's fatality figures are sobering, the executive is determined to improve the sector's statistics despite an increasing number of stakeholders and a decreasing

budget. And the figures serve to underline the HSE's message to the industry. As Williams says, "we cannot build the future of Britain on the lives of its workforce". The task now is to ensure every construction worker, from CEO to labourer, takes the message onboard and gets involved. Something of a marathon rather than a sprint.

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