Accidents zapped

Figures from the 2004 annual Joint Industry Board survey show a 26% reduction in reportable accidents since ZAP was launched in 2001. The figures were announced at the ZAP conference in April and cover over 30 000 operatives.

This is well on the way to our commitment to reduce reportable accidents by 30% by the end of this year. Even more impressive is that we have achieved a 61% reduction in reportable major injuries since 2001, against a target 40% reduction by the end of 2005.

As safety initiatives take effect across the industry, serious accidents are often the first to show improvement. ECA members with internal safety improvement targets are making much of the running.

We are now at a stage where the employees of ECA firms experience half the accidents of electrical operatives in the industry overall. This is a strong endorsement of the safety performance within ECA member firms. Alongside this message we are still looking for continual improvement so that we achieve our 30% reduction target under ZAP.

In recent years, the reduction in accident figures has been mainly due to the drop in major injuries. The figures show that the rate of other Riddor-reportable injuries levelled out around two years ago (see figure 1). We need to reduce these accidents in 2005 if we are to achieve the 30% target. As such, we ask all members to pay attention to the causes of accidents needing more than three days off work and make these a priority for action.

The JIB’s annual statistics can help firms of all sizes to focus attention in key areas. In 2004, 16% of Riddor- reportable accidents were falls from height, 21% resulted from slips and trips and 27% were due to manual handling (see figure 2). Reductions in these key areas will get us to the 30% reduction we are seeking. It is worth pointing out that only 2·5% of reportable accidents were due to electric shock.

Future thinking

Overall, there is much more awareness of general safety among ECA members since ZAP was launched. There is much more good (and even best) practice on the ground. ECA has supported the process with numerous regional events, practical advice and a free hotline for members, and we aim to do much more.

At this year’s ZAP conference, over 130 delegates discussed key topics such as work at height, apprentice safety and occupational road risk. The HSE acknowledged the contribution the ECA has made to dealing with practical issues surrounding the introduction of the Work at Height Regulations.

Plans for the future of ZAP were also highlighted, including suggestions to do more on behavioural safety, and push forward on musculoskeletal issues. We will keep highlighting asbestos issues, which remain a major problem for many electrical contractors.

We are now thinking of targets and other initiatives beyond ZAP. One thought, encouraged by the huge drop in major accidents under ZAP, is that as well as zero fatalities we could aim for zero major accidents. This would be a new and powerful motivational target for the ECA, and some member firms are already having some success with this. We will be asking members for views on this during 2005.

We have reached our target for reducing major injuries a year early. ECA members should take satisfaction from this and we will ensure that key stakeholders, such as clients and the HSE, are aware of the achievement. Our safety performance in 2005 will determine whether we make our overall reduction target of 30%.

It is clear that the ZAP programme has put ECA members on the map for safety performance. But we are already looking at initiatives to take us up to 2010, the target year under the Government’s national Revitalising health and safety initiative.