Jamie Wood, managing director at Glasgow-based roof contractor GRS
We’ve all heard horror stories – construction workers are more likely to die at work than any other profession. This is usually because of dangers working at a height, with one in three fatal falls in construction – and 15% being from roofers alone. This is obviously worrying to me.
It’s so important the tradesmen act safely as the health and safety of the clients are also under risk. In the roofing industry we’re often in a domestic setting and we can’t risk having any injuries to the tradesmen or homeowners.
Paul McAvinue, director for risk management services, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff
There have been big improvements over recent years in reducing the number and rate of injuries, but health has lagged behind. It is easier to focus on safety, which is more visible and short termist.
The Health in Construction Leadership Group (CHLG) has helpfully committed to address this issue. Health should also become a core part of construction design and management approaches.
We should also look to make behavioural health widespread by applying every good practice we’ve applied on safety to health – from health pauses to toolbox talks. We need new ways to get the health message across in a positive, engaging way.
Paul Keevill, general manager, Combisafe International
Accident rates are down but to reduce them even lower I think two things must happen. First, there are still elements in the construction workforce who have not embraced safe working as second nature – for example, they may be wearing a safety harness but are they clipping on? That’s a training and education issue.
Second, clients need to allow their contractors a budget that is sufficient to provide the enhanced safety measures which go beyond compliance and can make all the difference between protecting against everyday hazards and eliminating the unforeseen risks.
Jeremy Cook, partner at Ramsdens Solicitors
I think for any significant changes to happen it has to be industry-led. There has to be as much investment in the sector as IT or HR – companies need to treat it as a premium. And it’s got to be done from board level, even the smallest companies need a director who takes primary responsibility, and it should not be seen as a poisoned chalice.
Look at the German model, rather than having senior management on the shop floor or in a shop steward sort of way, the workers have a more proactive role in commenting on boards or committees – they have a role commenting on health and safety.
Chris Chapman, technical support manager, Building Safety Group
As they say, the industry has always shouted safety and whispered health but we are now trying to address this.
The problem is when you hear about deaths in construction, only 2% are from accidents and the rest are from occupational health factors such as cancer or emphysema. Sometimes it’s attributed to old age and so the numbers get lost.
It’s not just about death or fatal accidents, its also about quality of life. Even myself, I’m deaf in my left ear and that’s probably through my years of work.
If we had known then when we were younger, a lot of these things could have been prevented. Now we have to as an industry learn from these experiences. Prevention is the only option, because there is no cure.
Tony Putsman, vice chair, health and safety panel, CIC
Speaking as a member of the CIC Health and Safety panel, along with the ICE and RIBA we’re developing a group called CDM Differently, which has been inspired by the international “safety differently” movement.
We’re trying to deploy some of the concepts in a construction environment, and we’re keen for other bodies, including the CIOB, to come on board.
The idea is to be driven by construction practices, not legislation. The analogy is you don’t learn to drive safely by studying the Road Traffic Act, so it’s for the practitioners to determine what they should be doing, and a team-based approach. If you focus too much on the wording of the law, you get bureaucracy and inefficiency.
