July 11, 2003—Members of the UK construction industry recently responded to a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) document concerning industry health and safety, identifying the following areas to focus on:
- The industry culture topped the list of the greatest barriers to change, with inertia and complacency the most frequently cited characteristics.
- Respondents attached the highest importance to the need for education, training, and competence-based assessment.
- The role of clients and the need for realistic timescales and greater emphasis on “best value” rather than “cheapest and quickest” were seen as important.
- Integrated teams were overwhelmingly seen to be beneficial and to embrace improved health and safety performance.
- Effective involvement of the workforce was widely recognized as important in itself and a prerequisite for progress on other issues.
- Many respondents identified new or revised legislation and its enforcement as a specific mechanism by which HSE can contribute to improvement in the industry.
The preliminary action plan created by the HSE following the above industry response, Acting on Responses to HSE’s Discussion Document: Revitalizing Health and Safety in Construction, can be viewed by visiting HSE.
