The Health and Safety Executive this week urged contractors to improve safety practices as a means of increasing profit.
The call came as the HSE published its discussion document Revitalising Health and Safety in Construction.

HSE chief construction inspector Kevin Myers said that by improving procedures on site, contractors could reduce accidents, but also cut costs.

He said: "There are firms out there that have been operating on site in the same way for many years. By improving their systems and preplanning, they could become safer on site and more efficient."

Firms could be safer and more efficient

Kevin Myers, Health and Safety Executive

Myers added that the HSE had completed research and organised focus groups of small and medium-sized firms to gauge whether the safety message was reaching tradesmen.

The content of the Revitalising Health and Safety in Construction document was first revealed in Building last month.