Safety first

The 2003 figures from the electrical contracting industry's Joint Industry Board (JIB) show a welcome reduction in RIDDOR-reportable accidents. The figures relate to ECA member firms with over 30 employees, where we have a high degree of confidence in the reliability of the statistics.

Since the industry's Zero Accident Potential (zap) initiative was launched in 2001, reportable accidents have fallen by 28%. Two years into ZAP, ECA members are on course to attain the targets of 30% fewer reportable accidents and 40% fewer major injuries by the end of 2005 (see graph, left).

The reduction in the number of falls from height is particularly good news since this has been a focal point of the ZAP initiative. However, manual handling accidents, while slowly reducing, now account for over 25% of the total (see pie chart, left).

In addition to measuring accident rates, the ECA, with the support of the JIB, is using company feedback to identify the best safety performers. ZAP is about sharing good practice and we aim to find out how these companies are reducing accidents.

Success stories
In 2003, the JIB figures show that the top 20 large companies – those who reported zero or low RIDDOR-reportable accidents included (in no particular order):

• M W Cripwell;
  
• Rosebery Group;
  
• Dimension Data;
  
• Wingate Electrical;
  
• Gratte Brothers;
  
• A T Group;
  
• Crown House Engineering;
  
• Wainwright & Gibson;
  
• AMEC Construction.
  
• Southern Electric Contracting;
  
• Dodd Group;
  
• Hills Electrical & Mechanical;
  
• Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil;
  
• Cegelec;
  
• Shepherd Engineering Services;
  
• Cross Services;
  
• TJ Lowe;
  
• Watson Norie.

The average incidence rate for companies of this size was 20% more than these top performers.

One of the companies in the top 20 is Hills Electrical & Mechanical, whose accident figures covered 600 operatives. Quality and safety manager Phil Yates explains that the company bases its approach to safety on every employees' ownership of the duty of care when at work.

Hills runs minuted site-starter meetings involving project managers, site supervisors and the health and safety department for each large contract. A site starter pack is then introduced and weekly toolbox talks are conducted on site. Toolbox talks are a forum for operatives' input and feedback to management. As back-up, there is also a feedback form to allow operatives to raise any issues with management.

A strict procedure is implemented to ensure that every site has a specific risk assessment for all aspects of work. This document is the basis of toolbox talks. In addition, accident reporting is openly encouraged. Hills leans strongly towards ensuring that an accident is not repeated, rather than laying blame. Any accident trends are monitored and safety initiatives are based on eliminating these trends.

Another top performer in 2003 was Dodd Group. In 2002, its safety services department kicked off with an initiative to prevent RIDDOR-reportable accidents. Martin Farmer, director responsible for health and safety comments: "We are very proud of both our safety record and our commitment to the ZAP initiative. We are delighted by the success that our campaign has achieved so far."

Dodd Group looks for continual improvements in documentary procedures and controls. This is backed up with a continual review of training needs and the careful selection of subcontractors.

All incidents are analysed to ensure that trends are identified, training requirements amended and procedures and policies improved to maintain the drive towards zero accidents.

A third firm from the top 20 is Southern Electric Contracting. It sets up a safety plan and risk assessments before jobs start and issues an Injury prevention booklet to operatives. This helps the firm to carry out ongoing risk assessments if there are changes in the on-site situation.

The ECA will be talking to other leading companies in the coming months so that it can share practical experiences of what works when it comes to reducing accidents. It is worth pointing out that some of the ECA's high performers are smaller member companies and the Association will be following up some of these success stories too.