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SHEFFIELD TRADES UNION COUNCIL Established 1858 20th March, 2009 Circular 2009-15 Dear Colleagues, Health & Safety in the Construction Sector in Yorkshire & HumbersideStatement by UCATTUCATT calls for more Enforcement and Tougher Penalties as Construction Deaths rise in Yorkshire. Research by construction union UCATT has discovered that construction deaths in Yorkshire and Humberside dramatically increased last year. In 2007/8 there were 7 deaths in Yorkshire. This was a dramatic increase on the previous Year when there were only two deaths in the Region. The rise in deaths is particularly alarming because nationally construction deaths decreased slightly overall from 79 to 72 deaths during the same period. Since 2002 the number of enforcement notices and prosecutions issued by the Health and Safety Executive has been declining. The decline in enforcement activity has been caused by budget cuts and a reduction in the number of frontline inspectors. The industry has also become increasingly casualised, with a large increase in the number of workers supplied through employment agencies and Gangmasters. This has resulted in a large number of inexperienced workers being placed on construction sites. Derek Johnson, Regional Secretary of UCATT’s Yorkshire Region, said: “Each one of those 7 deaths represents an individual tragedy for a family whose loved one never returned home. Sadly in the Construction Industry there remain far too many bosses, who do not see health and safety as a priority. That attitude must be stamped out if we are going to substantially reduce fatalities in the future.” Construction is the most dangerous occupation in Britain, analysis shows that nationally the most likely causes of deaths were: Fall from height (23 deaths), hit by a moving or flying object (16), electrocution (10). It is estimated that management failure is a contributory factor in at least 70 per cent of construction deaths. However only 30 per cent of companies are prosecuted following the death of a construction worker. For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235 Safety Media-News. South Yorkshire Construction Sector targeted by HSE. (2nd January, 2009).Small businesses and refurbishment projects across the South Yorkshire Area are being targeted by a series of inspections, a source reveals. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be examining the Area after statistics revealed the Region is responsible for a large number of workplace accidents, The Star reports. Its Sheffield Office has successfully launched 13 prosecutions against businesses in the area where no accident has yet occurred. Dave Bradley, a construction inspector at the branch, states that this shows his organisation's commitment to improving conditions in the sector. He describes these as frequently "appalling" and says it is more often through luck rather than good judgement that injuries have been avoided. "Either through naivety or by deliberately taking short cuts, contractors are gaining an economic advantage over their rivals and in doing so are putting construction workers lives at risk," Mr Bradley states. In December, Philip White, who has just been appointed the HSE's chief inspector for construction, emphasised the importance of enforcement in maintaining health and safety standards. (Copyright). The Star, Friday, 20th March, 2009. (HSE Advertisement). “Accidents at work can shatter lives. HSE will be inspecting construction sites in your Area during March. Stop accidents shattering lives. Go online for simple guidance on preventing accidents in construction. http://hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/construction Health & Safety Executive.” For your information. Yours fraternally, Bill Ronksley, Secretary |