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The National Construction College builds firm foundation in London with new safety campaign

The National Construction College’s South campus in Erith, Bexley is supporting the latest phase of the Health & Safety Executive’s ‘Shattered Lives’ campaign to help reduce slips, trips and falls from height in the workplace.

In the construction sector alone, there were 10 fatalities and 1,764 major injuries caused by slips trips and falls throughout 2008-09. A further 2,156 of these types of incidents resulted in workers having to take more than three days off work. Combined, they resulted in costs to society of more than £99 million - costs which could have been avoided if the correct health and safety measures were put in place.

HSE estimates that the combined financial costs incurred by society as a whole from preventable slips, trips and falls in all sectors is around £800 million a year.

Teaching staff from the National Construction College support the campaign and take health & safety very seriously. With their onsite facilities, including safe scaffolding, they make sure the next generation of construction workers are fully aware of the risks of working at height.

"We take health and safety very seriously at the National Construction College as it is vitally important that the workforce is correctly trained in order to carry out their duties safely and efficiently," says Steve Maslin, training manager for the National Construction College South.

"At the NCC South campus, we incorporate health & safety into every course and make sure that trainees are aware of all potential hazards and how to spot them.

"We are very pleased to be able to support the HSE's Shattered Lives campaign, which is helping to reinforce the importance of a fully skilled workforce."

Richard Boland, HSE Construction Inspector for South East London says: “The construction industry has made great improvements in health & safety standards over the last 10 years which is to be welcomed.

"However, there is no room for complacency and continued effort needs to be made to ensure staff are properly trained and competent, that suitable safety equipment is provided and properly used, work practices are properly designed and supervised and that managers and directors lead by example.

“Workers, families and communities all pay the price for deaths and injuries at work. Added to this, the economic implications are huge, from families losing income to the impact it has on a business’s productivity, which in turn can affect the wider community. Also, with the possible civil, criminal and social support costs that follow serious incidents, it is clear to see that the whole of society loses out.

“Historically there has been an acceptance that death and injury are part and parcel of the construction industry. That culture is thankfully shifting and workers are being better protected because of it. HSE supports industry by providing a host of free advice and guidance material on website and we urge all directors, managers and workers to take the opportunity to build on the successes of recent years.”

www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives

5th March 2010