17 September 2007 – Hain and construction sector vow to cut deaths
An action plan to cut workplace deaths and improve health and safety standards was today agreed by representatives of the construction industry and the trade unions.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain convened today’s Construction Forum to address health and safety practices in the housing and refurbishment sector following the recent 28% increase in construction deaths.
The Forum was attended by government, the Health and Safety Executive, trade unions, industry bodies, suppliers, and contractors.
Peter Hain said:
“House and infrastructure building is booming; but I refuse to tolerate a parallel increase in construction deaths and injury. I am resolutely committed to halting the recent surge in construction deaths.
“Construction is our biggest industry and will be crucial to our continued economic growth and success. The Olympics, a huge house building programme, new schools and hospitals, and regeneration of our cities depend on the hard-working men and women who work in this industry. We must give them the protection they deserve and have a right to. Loss of life must not be the price of our future success.
“Figures out last week showed that nearly one in three construction refurbishment sites inspected by the HSE put the lives of workers at risk - this is completely unacceptable. The HSE stopped work at 244 of the sites immediately. But health and safety should never have been compromised in the first place.
“Today we’ve made a significant step forward. The Forum has agreed a clear framework for action to cut this appalling number of deaths and reverse this deadly trend. ”
“But today’s Forum is just the beginning. Long term sustained change will not happen without a change of culture, values and behaviours. The construction industry must take ownership and work side-by-side with trade unions and Government to take action and drive down these unacceptable deaths. Only by working together will we deliver and sustain results.”
Key areas for action agreed at the Forum today include:
- sharing best practice - working together to agree standards of health and safety to be achieved on housebuilding and domestic repair/refurbishment projects;
- raising levels of competence - encouraging all site workers in the housebuilding sector to carry a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or be able to demonstrate their occupational and health and safety competence to the same or better standard; and ensuring all workers receive induction training before they start work on a new site;
- encouraging worker involvement - improving the way employers and others engage with and consult the people they manage;
- integrated working - ensuring that site specific planning and induction is provided to all those in control of tower crane erection, operation and dismantling, with an emphasis on appropriate risk assessment;
- steps to drive out the informal economy in the sector, which can impact health and safety.
Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said:
“This morning’s meeting saw a constructive discussion between all stakeholders of the hugely important issue of construction safety. HBF constantly strives to ensure the highest standards are maintained throughout the country, and we will be taking positive action with other partners to address concerns in this area.”
John McClean, GMB National Health & Safety Officer, said:
“GMB welcomes that the construction industry recognises the valuable role that can be played by involving trade union safety representatives in both site planning and risk assessments. The DWP are again to look at the role of Workers Safety Advisors, effectively roving safety reps, to evaluate how they can help in delivering peer to peer safety information and improving health and safety culture across the UK’s building sites.”
Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said:
"The Secretary of State deserves congratulations for holding this forum. It is a vital first step in improving construction safety, but we need to ensure this is not just another false dawn in the battle to save builders lives."
John Spanswick, Group Chairman Bovis Lendlease and Chairman of the Strategic Forum Health and Safety Group, said:
“If we are really going to change the culture and behaviour in relation to health and safety, it will require senior people from all stakeholders to demonstrate proactive leadership. There have been some significant successes over the last few years in parts of the industry; it is important that we not only continue to build on this, but set the bar higher.”
The Strategic Forum Health and Safety Task Group will be asked to coordinate the development of the Framework. The Task Group will report on progress to Ministers by the end of the year.
The UK construction industry has an annual turnover of £250 billion pounds, which is 8% of UK GDP. It employs about 10% of the working population, making it the country’s biggest industry. It is a key industry in the delivery of London’s 2012 Olympic Games and in the Prime Ministers plans for 3 million new homes by 2020.
Notes to Editors
- The Forum was held at the Thistle Charing Cross Hotel, London.
- The full Framework for Action is available from Press Office and www.dwp.gov.uk
- Attendees included:
- Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
- Olympic Delivery Authority
- RoSPA
- Families against corporate killer/Hazards campaign
- WSP plc
- Scott Brown Rigg
- Shepherd Engineering
- Ove Arup
- NG Bailey
- British Precast Concrete Federation
- International Powered Access Federation
- Forster Roofing Services ltd and Homes for Scotland
- National Federation of Roofing Contractors
- Pinsent Masons law firm
- Health and Safety Manager for insulation industry
- Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group and Secretary
- Shepherd Construction
- Construction Skills
- Mears Group PLC
- Helacol Consultants Limited
- Construction Safety Campaign
- Unite Amicus
- UCATT
- Construction Confederation/Major Contractors Group
DWP Press Office: Victoria Francis / Ruth Allman / Darragh McElroy / Christian Cubitt: 020 3267 5137 / 5134 / 5130 / 5129
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk