Nov 2 2007
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and The Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Working Well Together Group (LNRWWT) are hosting two special workshops on 8 and 29 November in Leicestershire in a bid to reduce the high rates of fatalities and serious injuries in the construction industry.
In 2005/2006 there were 59 fatal injuries and 4419 major injuries to workers in construction. With this in mind HSE and the Working Well Together programme has organised two free half day events in Leicestershire as the latest in a nationwide series of Construction Safety, Health and Awareness Days (SHADs) to advise those in the business on good practice and safety procedures when on site. The first takes place on 8 November at the Quality Hotel in Loughborough. The second takes place on 29 November at Leicestershire County Cricket Club in Leicester.
These special Leicestershire Managers Awareness Days are aimed at small/medium contractors, sole traders and the self-employed, who together make up 83% of the industry, giving them the opportunity to find out about the latest developments in improving health and safety.
Mrs Samantha Peace, Principal Construction Inspector for Leicestershire, said: “Small companies can sometimes miss out on health and safety information and developments in best practice. Small contractors can underestimate the impact poor health and safety performance can have on their own lives and those who work with them and the financial impact on their business if things go wrong. They can find training expensive and difficult to arrange. If you run a small building, construction or contracting company, or if you are self employed, these free events are a must.”
Areas of greatest risk on construction sites will be highlighted and the latest information on a variety of topics including:
- Workplace Transport:
- Traffic management
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Safety features on workplace transport
- Management of Asbestos
- Legal responsibilities of managers
The event will spread construction safety messages ‘for the industry, from the industry’ as these events involve partnership and support between HSE and large contracting companies from across the country, as well as Construction Skills, and the Federation of Master Builders.