During the period of 2011/2012, forty nine employees were killed on the construction site, with an additional almost 3,000 injuries reported highlighting the need for improved
health and safety on site.
To try and reduce these figures, the Health and Safety Executive has been randomly visiting sites and assessing their health and safety standards. All visits are unannounced, ensuring that health and safety is being carried out correctly.
Checks were made to ensure all high risk activity was being performed correctly, whether this be working at height or working with heavy machinery. Risks identified included flammables being stored unsafely and temporary ramps in place across ice and snow being uncovered. The sites were also checked to ensure that welfare facilities were adequate. The checks are part of a month long initiative to tackle health and safety issues in construction.
Almost one in five sites visited were ordered to stop work immediately, with another one in five issued with a poor practice notice. Despite figures showing an improvement on previous years, they are still nowhere near the level they should be.
The fact is that there is no excuse for not having adequate safety measures in place. All employees should be able to go to work with the knowledge they will be safe at work. It is also important to note that whilst businesses may think that health and safety measures cost a lot of time and money, should an accident occur it would cost the employer much more in sick pay or worse still - death.
Of the 49 fatalities which occurred during 2011/12, 41 percent of these happened due to a fall, which 16 percent were caused by a moving object. This means that over half of the fatalities which occurred could potentially have been avoided had the correct health and safety measures been put in place.
The correct
health and safety training is vital in construction as it could, literally save a life. This is why the
SMSTS training course has been designed for site managers and persons who are responsible for the monitoring of staff on a construction site.
The course covers all current and up to date legislation as well as other aspects which may affect safe working in the building, construction and civil engineering industry. It also highlights the need for risk assessments in the workplace, as they may prevent injuries occurring. Importantly, the course teaches adequate communication to sustain a health and safety culture among the workforce.
It is important in the Construction industry that the correct health and safety measures are in place for safe working, which is where the SMSTS course can help.