The construction industry and trade unions have teamed up to deliver better safety, as the number of people killed on site continues to rise.
The unions are to target project managers as a practical way to implement better safety on sites. The move comes a year after an industry summit demanded that the sector improve its record.

The latest figures show that construction deaths have risen, with provisional figures from the Health and Safety Executive for the six months from 1 April to 30 September last year at 39, compared with 34 in the same period in 2000.

Project manager Mace has submitted a draft document, called Charter for Change, to the HSE, setting out a programme for improving safety.

The document considers low-cost training for all sections of the workforce, including senior management. It also looks at providing better employment standards and ensuring a safer on-site environment.

Mace health and safety director John Hanley said the programme was in its early stages and that a draft document had been given to Kevin Myers, the HSE's chief construction inspector.

The scheme will try to break new ground by putting in systems that can become the norm

George Brumwell, UCATT general secretary

Hanley said practical, short, low-cost training modules were being developed with the unions. He added that Mace was starting to implement the principles of Charter for Change on its Paternoster Square site in the City of London. He added that that scheme included improving the standards of subcontractors.

He said: "Mace has been working with UCATT, the T&G and the AEEU and we are looking to expand the scheme to other big contractors."

UCATT general secretary George Brumwell said: "Charter for Change will try to break new ground by putting in place systems and standards that can become the norm."