Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Executive Encouraging improvement in the management of health risks in the construction industry Ian Strudley Head of Health Risk Management Unit HSE Construction Sector

Anything new ? Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

One death is too many – inquiry ……. Recommendation 20. While this was outside the scope of the Inquiry, Occupational Health remains a serious problem in the construction industry with thousands of workers dying every year. I recommend that renewed efforts should be made to tackle this issue.

To introduce the paper : Whats the problem ? then : What HSE are doing…. –CONIAC Health Risks Working Group –Supply chain work –Research –COHME –Key Health risk activities

Whats the problem - Safety… workers killed at work in construction ( total 152) workers killed at work in construction ( total 180) workers killed at work in construction ( total 233) million working days lost due to workplace injury

Whats the problem…..and Health mesothelioma deaths estimated 4000 deaths per year from asbestos related disease >500 silica cancer deaths per year >50% of all occupational cancers million days lost to work- related ill-health (= 0.77 days per worker)

Ill health – Construction vs others

What are we doing….. Supply chain –handling of kerbs and paving –handling of heavy blocks –silica exposure from kerb and paving cutting –HAV from portable vibrating tools –handling of plasterboard –more to be added ??

Handling Heavy Kerbs Manual lifting picture vs mechanical lifting picture [picture omitted]

Control of silica exposure during cutting operations – dry cutting picture vs use of water suppression picture Picture omitted

What are we doing…..COHME

What are we doing…..CONIAC Health Risks Working Group Leading example of working with others in partnership in helping create healthier safer workplaces 2 nd meeting held on 2 November Initial business objective : define scope of Occupational Health

What are we doing…..specific health risk activities Hazardous substance research Dust / respiratory risks campaign Asbestos Manual handling Welfare Other emerging / re-emerging issues

What more can we do ?

Thank you for listening Ian Strudley HM Principal Specialist Inspector Health Risk Management Unit Construction Division HSE