The
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has acknowledged ‘real progress’ from the
construction sector in meeting a series of action plans designed to improve
staff protection through training.
Kevin
Myers, chief inspector of construction at the HSE, has presented his second
report to Health and Safety Minister Nick Brown.
"There
is evidence of real progress in delivering the action plans. The drive towards
a fully qualified workforce is producing some real changes – as well as
challenges. We are beginning to see benefits that challenge the perception that
a highly mobile workforce cannot be reality trained and competent in health and
safety," he said.
The
report covers the period from December 2001 to November 2002, focusing on the
industry’s progress introducing action plans agreed at the construction summit
in 2001.
The
industry set a number of targets to improve the safety record in the
construction sector:
Reduce
fatalities and major injuries by 40 per cent by 2004/5 (66 per cent by 2009/10)
Reduce
work-related ill health by 20 per cent by 2004/5 (50 per cent by 2009/10)
Reduce
the number of working days lost to injury and illness by 20 per cent by 2004/5
(50 per cent by 2009/10)
