Health and Safety ExecutiveHealth and Safety Executive

Key challenges for the

UK construction industry

& SMEs

Philip White

Chief Inspector of Construction13 November 2009

An improving picture for SMEs? Not necessarily . . .

-60.0

-50.0

-40.0

-30.0

-20.0

-10.0

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

% fatal rate change(Workers)

% MI (Employees) ratechange

% Employee over 3-day rate change

% RHS Target

Challenges with SMEs & small sites

• Recession/downturn – “price is everything”

• Extremely difficult to reach/communicate with

• Hidden part of the industry operating below the radar – no barriers to entry into construction

• Too busy for health and safety – “I’m not stupid, I’m busy”

• Competence – workforce skilled but not necessarily in health and safety

• Fast changing environment

HSE Construction Programme 2009/10

Main Targets - Micro & small

businesses – increasing emphasis

- Refurbishment projects

- Major projects

- Housebuilding

- Asbestos licence holders removal work

- Crane hirers & suppliers

Main Topics - Falls

- Welfare

- Asbestos & duty to manage

- Site transport

- Silica

- Slips and trips

- Fire

Programme for SMEs

• Small Sites Strategy

• Communication and education through Working Well Together and other partners

• Targeted campaigns

• Website & guidance

• Local Authority Construction Engagement (LACE project)

• Securing justice through inspection & enforcement

Small Sites Strategy

Why?

• Account for approx. 70% of fatal accidents

• Inspector feedback that standards are poor

• Informed by research

What?

• Aimed at sites with 5 or fewer workers

• Combination of inspection and guidance

• Concentrating on roof-work, welfare & manual handling (but also ensuring that basic minimum standards are met e.g. asbestos work)

Working Well Together (WWT)

• 10 year old campaign and still evolving

• Increasingly concentrating on reaching SMEs

• 14 regional groups and growing

• Real delivery partnership between HSE and the industry working together

• Delivering on average 4000 face to face contacts with workers through 40+ events per year

Working Well Together (WWT)

Campaigns targeting SMEs

• Asbestos: The hidden killer

• Shattered Lives

• Property Developers

• Falls from Vehicles

• Watch Your Step

Summary

• Long-term overall downward trend in fatals & major/O3-day injuries – but not necessarily the case with SMEs

• Recognised difficulty in reaching and communicating with SMEs – importance of working with and through others

• Inspection/enforcement key part of delivery - but a specific range of interventions for SMEs

• Programme aligned to new HSE Strategy – thinking ahead for new ways of reaching SMEs

• Seeking permanent change in industry culture - competence

• All have a role & responsibility . . . Will not be easy!