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Britain to look to Ireland for safety tips
The Construction union UCATT is demanding that Britain takes a lesson from
its counterparts in Ireland when it comes to safety on building sites.
Shocking figures released by the Health and Safety Executive reveal
that 77 workers died on construction sites in 2006-07 a massive 31 per
cent leap on the previous year.
Construction deaths account for a staggering 31 per cent of all deaths
at work.
The majority of deaths were caused by falls from heights.
The report reveals that the house-building sector and small construction
companies have deplorable safety records.
These sectors are the least unionised parts of the entire industry.
The rise in deaths comes at a time when the HSE is cutting the number
of inspectors and reducing the number of inspections.
HSE policy approach is in future to rely less on physical inspections
and more on advice and support for employers.
The British experience is in stark contracts to policies and outcomes
in the Republic of Ireland.
The number of safety inspections in 2006 increased by 13 per cent while
the number of construction deaths decreased by nearly 50 per cent from
25 to 13.
Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: “It is not rocket
science to realise that if you implement a rigorous inspection and enforcement
regime, sites will become safer and bosses will be forced to accept their
safety responsibilities. If you sit back and do little or nothing deaths
will increase.”
The appalling record of the construction industry and the HSE has been
recognised by Peter Hain, the Secretary of State at the Department of
Work and Pensions.
It is understood Mr Hain is particularly concerned about the poor safety
performance of the house-building sector, especially in the light of the
government’s new commitment to dramatically increase the number
of affordable homes being built. |
