The construction industry is the only industry in Britain in which work deaths are on the increase. This is one of the key reasons why the image of the industry is so low. The government is beginning to take an interest – deputy prime minister John Prescott will meet unions and employers at a summit next Spring.But by then another 30 construction workers could have died. That's why we need action now.
In the year to April 2000, 80 construction workers lost their lives on sites in Britain. There was an outcry. The figure is more than 20% higher than the previous year and construction gained the dishonour of being the only industry in Britain in which death rates are increasing.

Now, it emerges, the situation is getting worse. Health and Safety Executive data seen by Construction Manager show that 29 construction workers died on site between April and August 2000. This compares with just 19 during the same period in 1999.

No one should die in an accident at work. Construction is a dangerous industry but that is why there is strict safety legislation. The petrochemical industry is just as dangerous as the construction industry. It employs lots of subcontractors to maintain complex equipment and carry out construction works, it has lots of big, dangerous machines and there are many gantries and towers to fall from. But its safety record is improving. The public recognises that oil refineries and chemical factories do not have to be dangerous places to work.

Bob Blackman, the T&G's construction safety specialist, explains the difference. "I went to the Fawley oil refinery a couple of weeks ago and while I was there Mowlem was carrying out some work. Its site was well organised and everyone had safety hats, safety boots and goggles. It's not something you expect to see on construction sites," he says.

Industry is unsafe

Construction sites are considered unsafe places to work. In recent years, as bright youngsters refuse to be drawn into construction, the industry has asked schoolchildren why they don't want to be in construction. One of the most popular responses is that the industry is unsafe.

So something must be done. Not just to stop the deaths caused by accidents at work, which of course are unacceptable, but to improve the image of the industry.

Plans are already being drawn up to introduce roving safety reps. The scheme, backed by the government, will involve union safety representatives who will have the power to enter any construction site and report safety malpractice. These safety representatives would, in effect, provide extra policing for existing safety legislation, which is regarded by union officials as adequate but insufficiently enforced.

It is thought that each safety representative would be allocated a geographical area to police and would be an employee of a major contractor, which is better able to bear the overheads of a safety rep than smaller contractors. According to sources close to the scheme, the representatives will pin notices up on site indicating what safety improvements are needed. If insufficient action is taken to correct the problem, the safety rep will call in the HSE. It is understood that the government will pilot the scheme on some of its contracts in january 2001.

But contractors are against the idea. Indeed, Major Contractors Group chief executive Bill Tallis has organised a meeting of major contractors' chief executives at the end of the month specifically to discuss the matter along with other safety issues. It is understood that the meeting is intended to thrash out an alternative safety plan that the major contractors can put forward to industry and government.

The Construction Confederation is also against the scheme. In a letter from the Construction Confederation to Health and Safety Commission chairman Bill Callaghan, seen by Construction Manager, the Construction Confederation states that it does not support the scheme and has serious concerns about a pilot project.

Something must be done. Not just to stop the deaths caused by accidents at work, which of course are unacceptable, but to improve the image of the industry

Safety summit

These moves are part of the jockeying that is taking place ahead of a major safety summit that will be held by deputy prime minister John Prescott next Spring. Unions and employers are expected to meet DETR officials later this year to draw up an agenda for the summit.

Critics say that by the time the summit is held and resulting measures are put in place another 100 workers could have died on sites in Britain.

That's why Construction Manager is launching a safety campaign that all construction managers can implement now and for very little money. The idea is a simple one that is proven in both the petrochemical and chemical manufacturing industries. Outside every site, a safety board should be erected that tells the public and workers entering the site how many days have expired since the last accident on site.

Carrot and stick

The theory is that most sites actually have good safety records and the board would tell the passing public just how safe the site is. That's the carrot. The stick is that no one wants to be the one to let the site down and see the number plummet from, say 100 days, to zero.

It is simple to implement. If you are in charge of a site, why not order a board today? Companies such as Stocksigns (www.stocksigns.com) will design and manufacture a board like the one pictured for about £250. If you are a director why not instruct your site managers to put up boards next week.

Some contractors are already posting such safety boards on their sites. One is Carillion. Tony Wheel, the group's safety director, says that a board was erected outside the company's site at Sellafield which eventually recorded 600 000 hours without an accident. The company has also used them in the City, most recently on the development of 16 Old Bailey.

Lawrence Waterman, a safety specialist with consultancy Sypol Liberty Risk Services, says the idea is a good one, but that one accident makes a disaster. He says that it would be much better to say something like "one accident in 200 days".

simple step

What must be done

Construction Manager proposes that the industry takes action now before another worker dies. Every construction site in the country should have a highly visible safety board outside the site that clearly states the number of days since the last accident. It needn’t be expensive. Companies such as Stocksigns (www.stocksigns.com) can produce a 2000 x 1000 mm board like the one pictured above for about £250. Smaller sites could use smaller, less expensive boards. Signs such as these are used in the petrochemical and chemical industries where safety boards are seen outside every factory. Workers and managers do not want to be the ones saddled with the ignominy of sending the figure back to zero for everyone to see. And the public that pass these sites can see that, in fact, they are very safe places. This boosts their confidence and the image of the industries. Who’s backing the campaign? Kevin Myers – HM chief inspector of construction
Robert Syms MP – the Conservative Party’s construction spokesman
Don Ward – chief executive of the Construction Industry Board
Bob Blackman – safety specialist for the T&G union
Bernard Rimmer – chairman of the Design Build Foundation
Chris Blythe – chief executive of the CIOB

Source

Construction Manager