The Government aims to do something about this appalling health and safety record. Its February safety summit laid down tough targets for improvement: a 40% cut in major injuries and fatalities over the next four years and a two-thirds reduction 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 called for this figure to be halved by the end of the decade.
The electrical sector is far from the worst offender within construction. Nevertheless, in the year 2000 electrical contractors reported an 18% increase in accidents requiring three or more days off work.
The ECA has taken an early step towards improving the electrical industry's safety record by unveiling its Zero Accident Potential – ZAP – initiative. The ZAP programme aims to go further than current government targets by eliminating fatalities by 2004/5, while achieving a 30% reduction in reportable lost time accidents and a 40% reduction in major injuries.
ECA vice-president Charles McKinnon unveiled the ZAP programme at the Association's Working Safely Together conference at the end of October. "We must all accept that there needs to be major changes in culture and attitude to health and safety. I believe that if we are going to see realistic change we must start in the boardroom and drive down change in our organisations," said Mckinnon.
There needs to be major changes in culture and attitude to health and safety
Charles McKinnon
The ZAP initiative invites employers to commit to enhancing their health and safety policies and creating a positive safety culture by involving employees, carrying out risk assessments, targeting asbestos and working from heights and a continual process of monitoring and improvement. The ECA is calling for members to sign a certificate confirming their commitment and to display it to their employees and clients.
"Health and safety and environmental issues must feature as main agenda items at board meetings," said McKinnon. "The board should diligently review the latest safety performance statistics, trends and achievements, not just to glance at and pass on to the next item, but as a matter for action."
The ZAP initiative stresses the need to develop a culture where health and safety comes first. Involving employees is paramount: site inductions, toolbox talks, project meetings and safety task analyses are all essential, and a two-way exchange is the best approach.
Despite the best laid plans, there will be accidents. The ZAP programme reminds employers of their legal obligations to report accidents: evidence from the Health and Safety Executive suggests that under-reporting is endemic in the industry.
We intend to insist on good health and safety practices from our contractors
Dr Alan Whitehead
An analysis of the top 25 injury claims submitted to the Electrical Contractors' Insurance Company shows that 72% of claims resulted from a fall from height; a major target area for improvement. If working from heights cannot be eliminated altogether, then the ZAP initiative stresses the need for planning and the use of working platforms, suspension equipment and fall arrest equipment.
Asbestos-related diseases kill an estimated 3000 people each year, so it is no surprise to see the ZAP programme stressing the need for diligence in this regard.
For those still in doubt about the need to improve their safety culture, then perhaps proposed legislation on corporate killing will do the trick. JIB chairman Sir Michael Latham advised delegates that the new law, likely to be introduced in 2003, will mean that companies will be accountable in criminal law should their safety performance fail to meet expected standards. Furthermore, individuals will be personally liable if they are guilty of gross carelessness or recklessness.
Dr Alan Whitehead, parliamentary undersecretary of state with the DTLR was on hand to give the audience his view of the Government's changing approach to health and safety. "Accidents account for some 7·5 million lost days each year and cost the economy some £18 billion a year. Our Revitalising health and safety strategy has achieved some real successes but we need to do more."
If there were designated representatives on site, there would be no agenda for roving reps
Kevin Myers
Whitehead committed the Government, which is responsible for 40% of all UK construction, to being a model client. "As the industry's major client, we intend to lead by example by insisting on good health and safety practices from our contractors."
Whitehead also used the conference to announce imminent revisions to the approved code of practice to the Construction, Design and Management Regulations and said that the long-awaited consultation document on the inclusion of the Wiring Regulations into the Building Regulations will be issued before the end of the year.
As chief inspector of construction with the Health and Safety Executive, Kevin Myers knows more than most how difficult it will be to achieve the necessary culture change within the industry. "Working Well Together, Rethinking construction, Movement for Innovation…all of these are making a positive contribution," said Myers, "but health and safety is not seizing the minds of the industry's top players despite all these initiatives. The solutions are well known but we are not seeing penetration throughout the industry."
Myers argued for more information on the industry's success stories. "There has to be strong social, moral and economic arguments for adopting better health and safety practices."
The CLG will be encouraging member firms to apply competence certification
Bill Belshaw
The Constructors Liaison Group is busy devising its strategy for change. Bill Belshaw, chairman of the CLG health and safety task group, identified the principal areas for action: dealing with a fragmented industry, involving the workforce, using statistical data and skills certification.
"Making the culture change needed won't be easy," said Belshaw. "We have established an overall strategy but there must be liaison with others in the sector, increased communication through the web and action plans from trade associations and member firms."
The CLG will be looking to develop key performance indicators for the specialist sector and will be encouraging member firms to apply competence certification to their workforce. Belshaw said that such schemes should be within scope of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme: it is hoped that the electrical industry scheme, the ECS card, will strike an agreement with the CSCS soon.
Delegates raised the issue of the potential imposition of roving safety reps. Kevin Myers threw down the gauntlet: "If there were designated representatives on site, there would be no agenda for roving reps. You can eliminate the pilots overnight by appointing your own safety reps."
Inevitably, if health and safety is to be a main board item, there was concern over the competencies required from board directors. As Michael Latham pointed out, while new laws will require a board director with responsibility for health and safety, the whole of the board should be fully involved; safety should be the prime item. While directors don't have to be fully-blown health and safety practitioners, they should be fully involved in the business, and that means visiting sites and ensuring best practices are followed.
The final question tackled the industry's perennial problem – money. The tenders of reputable companies following the best health and safety practices inevitably come in higher than the cowboys. Clients have to understand that accepting the lowest price means health and safety will suffer.
Source
Electrical and Mechanical Contractor
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