20 September 2004 - Free One-Day Working Well Together Special Event for Smaller Construction Companies in the South West
A one-day event, as part of the Working Well
Together programme, of Construction Safety and Health Awareness Days
(SHADs), free to smaller construction companies, will take place at
Trowbridge on 5th October 2004.
It is hoped that the smaller contractors with less than 16 people in their
employ will take advantage of this special event, by sending delegates.
These smaller contractors, sole traders and self employed, make up 83% of
the construction industry and the event will highlight the areas within
construction at greatest risk, which will be illustrated by demonstrations
and practical advice.
A partnership of local people have organised this special one-day event,
which includes, local construction companies, Local Authorities, the
Federation of Master Builders, the Working Well Together groups, members of
the IOSH Construction Group, the National Housebuilders Confederation and
Health and Safety professionals from both large and small construction
companies.
These large and small construction companies include Bovis Lend Lease, A
McAlpine, Allenbuild, Kier, Costain, Bluestone, Mowlem, George Wimpey, CITB,
Persimmon Homes, C. H. Pierce E. W. Beard, the Federation of Master Builders
and have the full support of the Health and Safety Executive.
Joy Jones, Working Well Together Campaign Manager commented:
"Small companies can miss out on health and safety information and developments in best practice. They find training expensive and difficult to arrange. This initiative is not aimed at health and safety professionals, neither is it aimed at small firms who are already committed to health and safety. It is aimed at those small contractors who underestimate the impact poor health and safety performance can have on their own lives and those who work with them; the financial impact on their business if things go wrong; and who have yet to realise that health and safety can actually make good business sense.
SHADs are an excellent example of how the industry can work together to improve its health and safety performance. It is only by working together that we will see the recent improvements in the construction industry fatality statistics be converted into a real trend for improvement. A sustained effort from industry is required to secure year-on-year improvements".
The event will take place at the Civic Centre, St Stephens Place, Trowbridge BA14 8AH and information is available on the Working Well Together website or by contacting Joy Jones on 020 7556 2130.
Article by Alexandra Johnston
