1. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Health Safety’s poor cousin The challenge for the future Alistair Gibb Loughborough University

2. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems One Country Two Systems One Problem Two Standards

3. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems What do you see?

4. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems No helmet? Lower back problems? Skin problems? Hand arm vibration (HAVS)? Knee problems?

5. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems No helmet? Skin cancer? Cement related dermatitis?

6. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems No helmet? Musculoskeletal disorder? Dermatitis?

7. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems No gloves? No glasses? Musculoskeletal? HAVS?

8. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Great - He’s got the gear! But he’s not using it!

9. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Helmet? Boots? Gloves? Whole body vibration? Noise?

10. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Helmet back to front? Goggles? Skin problems?Life style??? Mask?

11. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems What do you see? Performance? Long service? Stress? Life style? Musculoskeletal problems? Laptop / mobile phone RSI?

12. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Ill health is a major problem State of complete physical, mental and social well being…... not merely the absence of disease or infirmity World Health Organisation, 1998

13. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Ill health is a major problem 134 000 UK construction people were ill because of work in 1995 1.2 M days lost in a workforce of 1.5 M Prevalence 6.8% in construction compared to 4.7% for all industry

14. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Ill health is a major problem EACH YEAR IN THE UK……. asbestos 700 deaths musculo-skeletal96 000 cases respiratory disease15 000 cases skin diseases 6 000 cases noise induced hearing loss 5 000 cases

15. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Patterns of ill-health in Irish construction workers (1981-1996) Adapted from Brenner, H & Ahern, W Construction Employees Health Trust, 2000

16. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems

17. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Safety Work-related ill-health (WRIH) ? ?? ? 

18. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Work-related ill-health (WRIH) ?? ? ?  ?

19. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Work-related ill-health (WRIH) ? ? ? ?  Safety ??

20. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Work-related ill-health (WRIH) ? ? ?  Safety 

21. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Ill health costs are increasing To the industry….. lost production insurance compensation recruitment re-training To society….. Social Security health care early retirement

22. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Ill health costs are increasing 2.4 Bn Euro (US$) on sickness benefits in Belgium in 1998 3.7 Bn Euro (US$) in Denmark in 1998 (3 million persons) 20 Bn Euro (US$) in UK in 1997 30.5 Bn Euro (US$) for work absence social security insurance in Germany in 1998

23. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Health management is not easy Complex Low profile cf safety Large set-up costs Latent benefits Hard to prove benefits Multiple exposure - hard to prove blame Long term strategy needed Large, temporary & mobile workforce Indirect employment Workers disinterested Low health expertise No baseline data

24. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Demonstration of the current problem of under-reporting of ill-health cases ECIA survey 2002 (UK Engineering Construction) Ill-health cases in last 12 months 4 RIDDOR (UK legal reporting requirement) 260Civil Liability Cases Mainly vibration and asbestos related

25. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Strategic approach will bring benefits Prevention rather than cure Senior management commitment and project-level implementation –roles defined –resources allocated –means specified –performance monitored –targets & procedures defined –compliance checked

26. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Creating healthy products and processes UK Government drive –Respect for People Processes ignore health –Techniques and tools are archaic Products are not chosen with health in mind –Some change but not enough

27. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Developing healthy organisations and industry Little ‘n Large Challenge of an ageing work population UK targets by 2010 –30% reduction in days lost –10% reduction in fatals and majors –20% reduction in ill-health cases –half of these by 2004!

28. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems So what is happening?

29. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems European Construction Institute ECI@lboro.ac.uk

30. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems

31. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems APaCHe vision A step change in the physical, psychological and social health of all involved in construction –healthy workers –healthy work systems & practices –healthy work organisations

32. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Designing for healthy construction 18 month project starts July 2002 UK Government funding Value ~£250k(2.5M HK$) Identify ‘best’ practice in Engineering Construction Adapt to mainstream sector Produce guidance for designers

33. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Source - UK Government Report 2001

34. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Baseline health survey Establish extent of problems directly from the work force 18 month project with NJC (Unions/employers) UK Government funding sought Value ~£300k (3M HK$) Survey >> Focus Groups >> Interviews International comparison??

35. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Focus Areas (Amey Vectra Report) Musculoskeletal Manual handling, upper limb disorders, repetitive or forceful movements Hazardous substances Asbestos, solvents, silica, MDF, wood dust Noise exposure Power tools, machinery Vibration Hand-held tools Biological exposure Bacteria, fungi Radiation exposure Ultra-violet, lasers, infra-red Stressors Work pressure/duration, life style

36. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Health Safety’s poor cousin The challenge for the future

37. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems So, what do we do? It’s difficult and there are no ‘quick-wins’ BUT….. We must take the lead in providing a healthy construction sector….. Find out where we are Identify best practice Get the message out

38. CIB W099 - Hong Kong - May 2002 One Country - Two Systems Alistair Gibb