Employee involvement is a major contributor to successful safety management .

The 2016 JIB ‘ Survey of Accidents ’ report , based on statistics gathered by JIB and ECA members , shows that the 2016 accident incidence rate ( AIR ) for RIDDORreportable accidents is only 14 per cent of what it was in 2001 . Since that time , the rate of improvement is around double that seen in the wider construction industry .

Once again , there were no reported fatalities in the 2016 survey , which showed an industry AIR of 216.38 per 100,000 operatives , which compares to the 2001 figure of 1600 / 100,000 . Of the accidents that occurred in 2016 , falls from height were reported as the most prevalent type of serious injury .

Yet , all other things being equal , the figures mean a 35 year old working in the electrotechnical industry was , in 2016 , seven times less likely to have a reportable accident than when they became a qualified electrician in 2001 . It ’ s difficult to identify any other metric in construction that has improved so much over 15 years . So how did this major improvement come about ?

Back in 2001 , faced with a dismal record of construction related fatalities

‘ Safety is , first and foremost , about people , and accidents are costly to workers in terms of distress , loss of earnings and possible disability .’

and other accidents on-site , then deputy prime minister John Prescott , issued construction industry leaders with a stark warning , giving them six months to achieve a step change in safety , or be required to do so through new legislation .

As part of an industry wide response to this challenge , the electrotechnical sector created the ‘ ZAP ’ safety campaign ( Zero Accident Potential ), which successfully steered , supported and recorded major improvements in safety performance . Over 15 years we ’ ve seen active engagement on safety by industry employers and employees , and yes , quite a push ( ranging from supportive to heavy handed ) from larger contractors in the supply chain .

Safety is , first and foremost , about people , and accidents are costly to workers in terms of distress , loss of earnings and possible disability . However , safety management is now a central part of running a modern contracting business . The cost to companies of accidents can include absence , downtime and delays , legal expenses , fines , damage to equipment , higher insurance premiums , loss of client and employee confidence , and a resulting loss of business . So what sort of things can managers do to embed safety management practice into their business ?

Firstly , what senior management does , and the impression it gives to employees , will determine the company ’ s all-important safety ‘ culture ’. This should involve clear and active

involvement from the MD and other top managers . This should be backed up by clear statements on what the employer will do to protect workers , how it will empower them with practical training and information , and how it will consult with them on significant safety issues - whilst still making it clear what safety behaviours are required by everyone onsite . Everyone should feel that their role is to speak up if they see bad practice , before it becomes the ‘ new normal ’ on-site , and leads to accidents .

Employee involvement is a major contributor to successful safety management . It can be achieved through activities such as site induction , ‘ toolbox ’ talks , and method statement briefings . Employees should be able to raise concerns , contribute from previous experience , and suggest changes and improvements .

Risk assessment is a vital part of ensuring site safety and it should involve employees . Risk assessment , carried out by a competent person , should include : Looking for significant hazards , deciding who could be harmed by these , evaluating the risk of harm , deciding on risk control measures , reviewing and if need be revising the assessment to ensure it matches what is planned , or actually going on . Again , ask and inform employees about your safety measures - after all , they know what happens ‘ on the tools ’ and can make safety management that much easier .

The number and , more importantly , the rate of reportable accidents among JIB and ECA members has fallen to its lowest ever . This is a great achievement and it ’ s down to electrical contractors implementing vital steps that control risks to employees and others .

Hopefully , as you read this , you will have been asking yourself : ‘ OK , but where ’ s occupational health ?’ There is no doubt that construction is more engaged than ever with occupational health , recognising its huge impact on both people and businesses . A recent survey of ECA members showed that most companies believe occupational health will continue to grow in importance in the next five years . The reality is that protecting both health and safety will be vital for the continued success of our industry . The ECA and JIB , and the wider industry , will have plenty more to say about occupational health in the future , but for now , let ’ s to take a moment to reflect on a safety success story for our industry .