Trade unionists urged companies in the construction industry to take responsibility for the increased number of fatalities on construction sites at the TUC conference before its cancellation.
'Action is needed and attitudes must change. Don't blame this on the HSE or the government, the responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the employers who must take the blame,' said one trade unionist adding that statistics published by the Health & Safety Executive for 2000-2001 (see TheFB 18 August, p23) are 'a shocking indictment of the construction industry.'

In the same month that the statistics were published, the industry rejected plans to have safety representatives on-site — a move that was condemned by the unions.

With just seven per cent of the UK workforce, the industry has 33 per cent of work-related deaths.

A GMB delegate praised the government for telling the construction industry to 'pull its socks up' and its threats to regulate the industry if employers failed to take action.

However, he warned that it would be extremely difficult to regulate an industry 'infamous for its rampant, bogus self-employment record.'

An estimated 90 per cent of construction companies employ fewer than 13 staff.

'They [construction companies] have allowed the industry to fall into bad habits,' he continued. He claimed there had been evidence of lax maintenance on the railways and expressed deep concerns about the involvement of the private sector in hospitals in light of its 'less than impressive' record for the rail network.

More than 100 building workers and eight members of the public were killed on construction sites last year. In 10 years nearly 1,000 workers have been killed.

Source

The Facilities Business