Summit of achievement?

February's construction industry safety summit saw the government call for a cut in deaths and major injuries by 40% over the next four years and by two-thirds by the end of the decade.

Deputy prime minister John Prescott also demanded a 20% cut in days lost through work-related ill health and injury over the next four years and said that this figure should be halved by the end of the decade.

What can m&e contractors do to play their part in transforming the industry? Bill Belshaw of MITIE Group spoke on behalf of the Constructors Liaison Group at the summit. He highlighted the scale of the problem: "CLG members carry out some of the most hazardous activities in construction – and they are also the industry's principal technology providers. The CLG recognises that the cultural change required to make a real and permanent improvement in its occupational health and safety will not be easy. Nor will significant change be achieved overnight." All is not doom and gloom. The CLG has identified five principal areas for action:

Achieving a step change – the CLG will promote a step change in the attitude taken towards health and safety on construction sites by ensuring that the principals and chief executives of all member companies pass the 'zero tolerance' safety message from the top to the bottom of their organisation.

To make sure that this happens, senior management are asked to raise the profile of health and safety to the top of their agenda. The CLG will monitor their response to ensure that the message is getting through at every level of the workforce. To reinforce this the CLG will hold a number of high profile conferences.

Dealing with fragmentation – the 30-plus trade associations that make up the CLG account for 48% of firms engaged in construction and 33% of output.

The CLG intends to deliver a cohesive strategy by setting up a health and safety forum that will develop overarching action plans to drive forward the necessary improvements. The CLG will cascade information, advice and guidance down from this forum via newsletters and web sites that have already been developed by the various trade associations.

The CLG will be a driving force in the specialist sector for the change in culture necessary to make construction sites a safe place to work

Bill Belshaw

Involving the workforce – the CLG recognises that the workforces must be engaged in safeguarding their own health and safety. The best ways of encouraging employees to become involved will be discussed with the trade unions, through the joint industry bodies that already exist. The CLG will encourage the appointment of safety representatives from the workforce.

Using statistical data – the CLG will adapt and improve the existing accident surveys used by member firms. Work on developing a co-ordinated health and safety questionnaire will be undertaken during this year, with a view to launching a pilot scheme early in 2002. The CLG will also work with the Health and Safety Executive to develop and improve key performance indicators for use by firms throughout the sector.

Certification of competence – the CLG will encourage its member associations to support the use of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. Where the CSCS does not meet requirements, the CLG will assist the development of a sector-specific competence certification scheme that will be linked to CSCS.

Work on this initiative has already commenced in some sectors and will be extended to others during 2001. The CLG will make every effort to ensure that its member firms achieve the targets set by the Confederation of Construction Clients for certificated workforce competence in health and safety.