Construction firms in Scotland who specialise in refurbishment projects are being urged to sign up to a free health and safety event designed to help them improve their risk assessments and overall health and safety strategies.
The event on Tuesday 14th February 2017 at Clyde Valley High School in Wishaw is organised by Site Safe Scotland’s Working Well Together campaign and North Lanarkshire Council.
The awareness event is specifically designed to attract construction firms who regularly carry out refurbishment work - figures show that in 2014/15 close to half of workers killed in the construction industry were carrying out this kind of work.
The half-day event will provide “clear practical advice on how to address serious issues that can impact on both business and lives”, the organisers said. It's also a good idea to review your business insurance to ensure you are covered in the event of incidents and accidents affecting employees through your employers' liability insurance.
The construction industry also faces other health and safety challenges, including workers’ exposure to asbestos and silica dust.
The Health and Safety Executive’s principal construction inspector in Scotland, Isabelle Martin, said: “Construction continues to be one of the most dangerous industries. Small sites account for the largest proportion of work-related deaths, with high levels of ill health and injuries each year.
“Over half of all reportable injuries occur during refurbishment work with a high number of deaths following falls through fragile surfaces every year.
“This free event will provide essential information and advice that could help save lives, so I urge construction businesses to attend.”
