First for some good news. Construction sites got safer again in the year from April 2002 to March 2003. For the third year in a row, construction-related deaths dropped, albeit to a still unacceptably high figure of 71. This is a dramatic improvement on the dark days of 2000-2001 when 105 lives were lost in the industry (page 7).

Cynics might say that the drop is only because workloads are not as high as a few years ago. Not so: the rate of fatal injuries per worker is down to four per 100 000 workers, the second lowest rate on record.

Now for the bad news. In the first quarter of the year from April 2003, already 27 people have died while doing a job for the construction industry. If this quarter is representative, we can look foward to 108 workers losing their lives this year, a stark reminder that a more sustained effort is required across the industry if it is to achieve the necessary cultural change.

The ECA and Amicus has been more proactive than most in promoting the very best procedures regarding health and safety for electrical workers. However, there is no time for complacency. Contractors can look forward to tough new laws on corporate killing, so make sure you follow best practice on your sites now.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor