New JIB figures for accidents in the electrical contracting industry have revealed a large fall in the number of incidents reported over the last 12 months.
A dramatic drop in the number of accidents reported in the electrical contracting industry has been greeted with cautious optimism by the ECA, following the JIB announcement of a 24% fall in RIDDOR-reportable accidents compared to 2001. In particular, there has been a marked reduction in falls from height.

An indication of the drop in numbers can be seen in figures released for 'three day lost time' accidents. In 2001 they numbered over 1500 (incidence rate per 100 000 employees), while the latest figures report less than 1200. The ECA's ZAP initiative target is to reduce the rate to below 1000 by 2005, less than half of the current construction industry average.

Accidents within the electrical contracting industry in 2002 can be broken down into the following percentages:

  • manual handling –21%
  • stationary objects – 13%
  • electrical shock – 2%
  • slips, trips and low level falls – 24%
  • falls from height – 15%
  • other - 25%

The figures, covering over 1100 firms and 30 000 electrical operatives, are a major boost for the ECA's ZAP initiative, which aims to raise awareness of health and safety. The drop in reported accidents sets the industry well on its way to meet improvement targets of zero fatalities, a 30% reduction in 'three day lost time' accidents and a 40% reduction 'in major lost time' accidents by 2004/5.

Alex Meikle, head of employee relations at the ECA, was pleased but reserved in his enthusiasm over the figures: "One year's figures must not be construed as a trend, but nevertheless, we believe there may be grounds for cautious optimism. We are particularly pleased that injuries due to falls from height appear to have come down, such indicators are precisely what ZAP is trying to achieve."

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor