getting a healthy balance

14.03.07

It may be a hackneyed phrase, but construction firms can’t afford for health and safety to be anything but their ‘number one priority’.

Over the last 25 years, more than 2,800 people have died as a result of construction related injuries*. It’s a shocking figure and viewed against the backdrop of an increasingly litigious society, one of which the industry needs to be extremely mindful.

No one will dispute the fact that construction can be a dangerous business. Every element of a construction project has associated risks and the more challenging the project, the more these are likely to increase.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), construction professionals should aim to identify and minimise risk at the outset. That is why it has chosen to introduce new legislation to this effect and the hope is that standards will improve dramatically as a result.

From April 6, UK construction companies will be duty bound to adhere to new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations.

Designed to revise and bring together in a single regulatory package the existing CDM 1994 and the Construction (Health Safety and Welfare) (CHSW) Regulations 1996, the new regulations will give businesses a chance to review the way they approach health and safety.

One of the most encouraging aspects of CDM 2007 is that it places increased responsibilities on clients to be more accountable for the impact they have on health and safety standards. It achieves this by providing enough time and resource to allow projects to be delivered safely and ensuring there are sufficient management arrangements in place for health and safety throughout a project.

In a sector which many already believe to be over regulated, there is no doubt the changes will be perceived by some as another stick with which to beat the industry.

However, Peter McConville, health, safety and environment manager at Black Country based Adonis Construction, says the sensible option is to view the changes as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle.

“By encouraging firms to provide better information about individual construction sites and the risks associated with working on them, standards will naturally improve, enabling the industry to shake off the poor health and safety image it currently has in the media.”

 
Understanding CDM 2007 is fundamental, should the key dutyholders interpret the new CDM Regulations properly. With suitable enforcement from the HSE, the regulations have the potential to create better designs, more efficient, safer sites and buildings that are easier to maintain, thus resulting in cost savings for everyone involved.

But in Peter’s opinion, simply following the new rules isn’t enough.

He continued: “Companies also need to promote ownership of health and safety at every level within an organisation, encouraging individuals to use their common sense and take responsibility for their actions.

“Gone are the days when you could rely on one health and safety representative to shoulder the burden for everyone. Instead, if you want your business to succeed in today’s economic climate, you need to ensure that health and safety is ingrained within your culture.”

It’s an approach Adonis Construction has adopted with considerable success, driving health and safety from the top down to send a clear message to clients and staff.

Since the mid-1990s, the company has employed a full-time, in-house health, safety and environment advisor who reports directly to the managing director.

All Adonis’ contract and site managers undergo rigorous training courses on health and safety awareness and First Aid. Additionally, all site-based and office staff receive safety training and hold Construction Skills Certification Scheme certificates (CSCS).

But like every major construction firm, Adonis also employs sub contractors to carry out work on its behalf and according to Peter, their commitment to health and safety has to be paramount if they want to be part of the team.

“As ambassadors for our business, we have to be confident that our sub contractors have been properly vetted and that they’ve got the necessary competencies well before we let them onto one of our sites,” said Peter. “Failure to do so is a failure to manage our own reputation.

“That is why we use an independent consultant to assess every sub-contractor we work with and independently approve every method statement and risk assessment before a sub-contractor is permitted to commence on site.

“In the construction sector, you can’t leave anything to chance. Continual assessment is key and it is my belief that if people are actively encouraged to get involved in health and safety from the outset, they will be more receptive to it.

“Training is also essential, so whether it’s an induction briefing at the start of a job or an update session on the introduction of new legislation like the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, employees need to feel they understand the issues and that they are involved in the process.”

He concluded: “In a world that is becoming increasingly more litigious, it is vital that health and safety is a fundamental part of everything we do. As champions of Britain’s biggest industry, construction professionals need to take a common sense approach to legislative changes and our aim should be to encourage people to pick up the mantle of health and safety, creating a better, safer working environment for all.”

*Source: HSE