Ref: PRBCAS184
Date: 13 August 2012

Construction safety need not be rocket science

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"Making workplaces safe, even in the construction industry, is not rocket science," says Michael Slade, Managing Director of health & safety specialist Bibby Consulting & Support.

Slade was responding to news that when inspecting 22 London construction sites recently, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) took formal enforcement action against almost half of the firms. In most cases, the problem was simply that basic precautions had not been taken, but one site was actually shut down because the working environment was simply too hazardous.

Calling these figures "nothing short of staggering", Slade says: "In simple terms all you have to do is follow the guidance available and plan things properly; so it's extremely disappointing to see that the number of fatalities in this sector has remained static at around 50 for the second year running. So many of these deaths are wholly avoidable."

He adds: "Regulations relating to this kind of work are prescriptive, which means they tell you what you've got to do. That's why it's so unacceptable that a simple lack of planning can put people's lives at risk as well as the future of many businesses."

Slade points out that construction companies are in for an even bigger shock from 1 October this year when they are likely to be charged by the HSE for being sent a notice of prohibition or improvement. The 'Fee for Intervention' cost recovery scheme will see companies paying for the expense of the HSE investigating them and taking enforcement action.

"With the construction industry shrinking, companies can ill afford to be paying out avoidable fees," says Slade. "The simple answer is to put the effort in at the front end to plan and make workplaces safer. It really isn't rocket science."
 
 
 

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Editor's Notes

About Bibby Consulting & Support

Bibby Consulting & Support has earned the reputation of being one of the UK's leading providers of compliance management services. We enable employers and senior managers to attain and maintain compliance within the demanding, complex and constantly evolving fields of Employment Law, Health and Safety and Environmental legislation.

www.bibbycas.com

Media contact:

Sue Tupling

CHANGEWORKS Communications

 
t: + 44 (0) 1785 247588

 
e: sue@changeworkscom.co.uk

Company contact:

Katy Vaughan

Head of Marketing

t: +44 (0) 8453 100 600

e:Katy.Vaughan@bibbycas.com