The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has acknowledged ‘real progress’ by
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, presenting his
second report to Health and Safety Minister Nick Brown, said: "There is
evidence of real progress in delivering the action plans. The drive towards a
fully-qualified workforce is producing some real changes. We are beginning to
see benefits that challenge the perception that a highly-mobile workforce
cannot really be trained and competent in health and safety."
The report covers the period from December 2001 to November 2002, focusing on
the industry’s progress in introducing action plans agreed at the construction
summit in 2001.
The industry set a number of targets to improve the safety record in the
sector.
These included a reduction in fatalities and major injuries by 40 per cent by
2005 (66 per cent by 2010), and a reduction in work-related ill health by 20
per cent by 2005 (50 per cent by 2010).
