The deaths of 59 people can never be cause for celebration. But when the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released its annual statistics on fatalities in July it was better news than ever before: the lowest number of annual deaths on record.
Good news from the Major Contractors Group (MCG) too. It's annual report showed that there have been no deaths between April 2005 and March this year on MCG sites. The group also reports falls in the incidence of major injuries, over-three-day injuries and reportable injuries.
The MCG's push towards having a fully carded workforce must have had some impact. By March 2006, 79% of people on MCG sites, including subcontractor and agency staff, had cards, which were either CSCS cards or others appropriate to their occupation. Pretty impressive stuff. And once again the MCG is trying to insist that everyone carries a card. From 1 October this year all tradespeople must have an appropriate card (not necessarily CSCS) or be applying for one. And from 1 January 2007, it's no card, no entry to its sites.
MCG tried this before in 2003/04 and failed. But now the route to getting a CSCS card has been simplified. Sensibly, experienced tradesmen will be able to go through a day's assessment rather than going through the months and even years of paperwork needed for NVQs.
Cards alone won't stop the deaths. MCG realises that and is introducing other measures too. Its members are now giving short, site-relevant safety talks rather than droning through the company handbook. Emirates Stadium project director Rolv Kristiansen's tip is to talk through safety critical activities with the workers and get their input.
Construction Manager wants to highlight examples of good health and safety practice.
If you've got any good news stories on that subject, we would like to hear them.
Introducing...
Welcome to Construction Manager's new deputy editor Rory Olcayto. Rory started his working life as an architect before moving into journalism. He joins us from Project Scotland in Glasgow where he was assistant editor.
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Construction Manager
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