Clampdown on unsafe practices at building sites

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority is to start "blitz" inspections at construction sites to improve health and safety standards, in particular work-at-height safety, its chairman Joanna Drake said yesterday.

Out of 4,746 occupational accidents last year, 571, or 12 per cent, occurred in the construction industry, she said.

Reported accidents in construction in 2004 increased by 50 over the previous year while there were 150 fewer in the manufacturing sector.

She said the government paid out around Lm5 million annually in sickness benefits related to occupational accidents.

The highest incidence of accidents in the construction sector involved falling from a height (38 per cent) due to the lack of appropriate equipment and protection while accidents during transport operations amounted to 19 per cent, followed by cave-ins at 14 per cent.

The OHS officers would inspect a wide range of construction sites, issuing enforcement notices and, if necessary, initiating legal action against contractors, Dr Drake said.

"We have, so far, adopted a soft approach, giving employers time to adapt to the new regulations and getting their standards up to scratch. The authority still intends to advocate good practice and focus on education but it does not intend to stop there," she said.

Despite a downward trend in accidents, the spate of serious incidents at construction sites in recent months, particularly involving workers falling from a height, was "still far too high". she continued.

"It is disheartening to know that accidents attributable to working at height could have been prevented if adequate safety measures were taken."

Dr Drake was addressing a half-day seminar, Building in Safety, to mark European Week for Safety and Health at Work, which is focusing on safety in the construction industry and is being held between October 18 - 22.

The seminar is the first in a series of activities that the OHSA is organising, following the launch of the European Week a fortnight ago.

Dr Drake said the focus on construction would carry on throughout the year and a campaign was being designed to help industry stakeholders build a safer, healthier and more productive working environment.

The seminar, held at the Trade Fairs and Exhibitions Centre, in Naxxar, was also an opportunity to discuss the regulations governing temporary and mobile construction sites that would enter into force shortly.

The authority would continue to review the regulatory framework to identify any gaps and deficiencies, Dr Drake said.

As part of the European Week's focus on construction, the OHSA intended to step up publicity to promote construction safety and has already held, in collaboration with the Building Industry and Consultative Council, courses in health and safety, awarding the safety passes. It is also to organise a number of fora and media campaigns.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, which is running the European Week campaign, has estimated that the EU construction industry is worth €902 billion a year.

The sector has 12.7 million employees, equivalent to 7.9 per cent of the total EU workforce. However, a significant portion of the construction labour force is undeclared, Dr Drake said.

The agency has also estimated that higher health and safety standards in Europe's construction industry could save up to 1,300 lives and avoid 850,000 serious injuries each year, while cutting the sector's high incidence of accidents and work-related illnesses could save up to €75 billion a year.

"Safety is a shared responsibility," she said, calling for the joint effort of employers, contractors, employees, relevant professionals, related bodies and the government.

The seminar, organised together with Fairs and Exhibitions Ltd, was also addressed by Garrett Croke from the Irish Health and Safety Authority, BICC chairman Robert Musumeci, Federation of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors president Angelo Xuereb and the OHSA's CEO Mark Gauci.