The industry is not doing enough to eradicate airborne health risks
Around 130 chief executives and representatives from the industry’s key professional and trade bodies are to attend a summit this Thursday to address construction’s poor record on reducing workplace health risks.
Statistics suggest that for every fatal accident in the industry, approximately 100 construction workers die from work-related cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, silica dust or diesel engine exhaust emissions.
High numbers also suffer noise-induced hearing loss, hand arm vibration syndrome or musculoskeletal disorders from manual handling.
The summit, entitled “Committing Construction to a Healthier Future”, has been organised by the Health in Construction Leadership Group (CHLG), which comprises contractors, clients, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), professional bodies, trade associations and trade unions.
The group’s mission is to unite the construction industry in eradicating ill health and disease caused by exposure to health hazards.
Members include contractors Balfour Beatty, Skanska and Mace; clients Lend Lease and Land Securities; trade bodies Build UK and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, the CITB and construction union UCATT. The HCLG is chaired by Land Securities’ group head of health and safety, Clive Johnson.
"The misconception that health issues cannot be controlled is simply not true and ruining people’s lives. Harmful dust, whether silica or wood, is a serious issue and can be managed effectively with the right design, equipment and training."
Peter Baker, HSE
Several safety-related bodies are also backing the CHLG, including: the British Occupational Hygiene Society; the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health; the Institue of International Risk and Safety Management.
The summit will hear from Simon Clark, an electrical engineer who has contracted mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos, and Justin Tomlinson MP, parliamentary under-secretary of state for disabled people.
Other principal speakers at the event will include Dame Judith Hackitt, chair of the Health and Safety Executive, Sir Malcolm Grant, chair of the NHS, and Andrew Wolstenholme, chief executive of Crossrail.
Heather Bryant, Balfour Beatty’s UK health and safety director, Andy Mitchell, chief executive of Tideway and Steve Hails, Crossrail’s health and safety director, will also address the summit.
Identifying health risks has also been a focus of recent HSE construction site inspection campaigns, with the most recent in October resulting in 52 health-related prohibition notices (compared to 380 on accident risks) and 152 improvement notices (there were 108 on safety).
At the time, Peter Baker, the HSE’s chief inspector of construction said: “The misconception that health issues cannot be controlled is simply not true and ruining people’s lives. Harmful dust, whether silica or wood, is a serious issue and can be managed effectively with the right design, equipment and training.
“Health effects may not be immediate but the ultimate impact on workers and their families can be devastating. Each week 100 construction workers die from occupational disease.”
