Major Construction Push Continues in UK
A van from the Health and Safety Executive is making a two-week safety tour of major construction sites in the South East region through June 21.
Britain's Health and Safety Executive, its equivalent to OSHA, is doing a lot these days to improve safety in the construction sector. HSE recently issued new regulations governing the use of tower cranes. It has offered leaflets and podcasts and allows online visitors to download its popular Health and Safety in Construction Guide at no charge.
The next step: Through June 21, the agency is sending a white van to visit major construction sites in the South East region. HSE's White Van Roadshow will highlight dangers in the construction industry because 14 construction workers died in 2008-2009 in the South East, according to HSE. Experts traveling in the van will demonstrate new safety equipment and will focus their presentations on the risks from poor housekeeping, working at heights, manual handling, transport, and asbestos and other dust-related diseases.
"The White Van Roadshow is the perfect way to reach out to the industry and educate workers on how simple steps can prevent serious accidents," said Tim Shambrook, HSE Project manager. "The aim of the tour is to be engaging and show construction workers that we understand the pressures of working on a construction site but that cutting corners when it comes to health and safety is never a good idea. I am looking forward to spending a day at each site and speaking to on-site workers about the risks they face and how to reduce them."
The White Van Roadshow has been organized as part of the Working Well Together initiative, an OHS partnership between HSE and the construction industry. For more information, visit www.wwt.uk.com.
To read or download the third edition of HSE's Health and Safety in Construction Guide, visit this page. The first two editions sold more than 250,000 copies.