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Alan Cork
Member - 6 posts
I am not surprised by the HSE findings.
I have been in Facilities Management for over 25 years and still find it hard to find small to medium sized contractors that have a healthy attitude to health and safety risk assessments.
Construction is a major problem but I believe that there is a huge amount of unnecessary risk taken by contractors undertaking refurbishment and maintenance work. Most of the contractors I have come across do not understand how to carry out a risk assessment let alone put together a practical method statement. Most of them have not had suitable training and think of it as a paperwork exercise with no real value.
Few of these contractors can afford to train their staff and staff turnover is high.
Considering the statistics for falls from height, the lack of knowledge by contractors is remarkable. This can only be put down to the message not getting through. I wonder how many small construction/maintenance company directors subscribe to Workplace Law?
I don't have an instant answer to this. If I stick to only employing contractors with top notch H & S my choices will be very limited.
It is not surprising that most publicity goes to fatalities on construction or refurbishment sites but I see very little about injuries sustained during maintenance work. I am not convinced that injuries are not occurring.
I would welcome other member's views on this.
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Anne McAllister
Member - 124 posts
It may be the case that employers who are unable to afford the training you mentioned are also unable to employ staff legally and therefore the workers/employees are unaware of their rights. Illegal workers and low paid staff may be less likely to report accidents.
I can see where finances may become a burden but peoples lives are at stake. How many more deaths do we need to get the message through?
There is also a typically male culture at work here .Stick a plaster on it and forget about it or work through the pain????
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Pasc Ruggiero CFIOSH, FIIRSM
Member - 42 posts
This appears to be news to the HSE. If they listened to H&S professionals involved in Construction (not just refurbishment!!) they would have addressed the corrective measure sooner - firstly prosecution, secondly prohibition (stop work) notice, thirdly prohibition notice! I cant think of the 4th action they should take.
It’s good to see IOSH taking a firm (necessary) line on corporate manslaughter penalties - another Workplace Law article today
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Alan Cork
Member - 6 posts
The point I was trying to make is that there are surprisingly few maintenance contractors trained in basic health and safety. I have recent experience of trying to employ well established firms whose staff have been with the firm for a few years (migrant or illegal workers is not the issue here) but when you make enquiries about their health and safety practices it soon becomes clear that they are ill-prepared. Try telling a small to medium sized contractor that their staff need training how to use a ladder! It is a continual problem.
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Pasc Ruggiero CFIOSH, FIIRSM
Member - 42 posts
Alan,
I agree with you. However, the problem is not confined to maintenance, construction or manufacturing for that matter - it’s widespread. Because of the fluid nature and propensity to engage self-employed people in construction, this sector is somewhat worst.
I still maintain that employers have had more than their due of “encouragement” and that enforcement is the only cure.
In the meantime, clients continue to be responsible for engaging “competent contractors” (not restricted to construction). A contractor cannot achieve this status if HE engages untrained supervisors, operatives, etc. On your own it is an uphill struggle. But you could give notice to your contractors that you are introducing rigorous (defined) competency assessment criteria, say in 6 months. You may need to remove organisations from the select list! Unless you see this through, you will not be taken seriously by others and standards will regress to (current?) levels.
Good Luck!!
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