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View All Press Releases| SED2011 | 06 May 2010 |
HSE (Health and Safety Executive) commit to SED 2011
HSE (Health and Safety Executive) is a regular SED exhibitor and for many years has provided valuable information and advice on work safety issues and legislation in the construction industry. The company will be back at SED 2011.
2.2 million people work in Britain’s construction industry, making it the country’s biggest industry. It is also one of the most dangerous. In the last 25 years, over 2,800 people have died from injuries they received as a result of construction work. Many more have been injured or made ill. HSE deals with all aspects of construction work in England, Scotland and Wales.
Here’s one of the latest news items from the HSE, which visitors to SED and those reading from the construction industry would find particularly interesting.
Users of older plant could be subjected to increased scrutiny from HSE inspectors following the government's acceptance of Rita Donaghy's report into construction deaths.
One of her recommendations concerned the 'legacy challenge of second-hand equipment still in circulation.' It recommends that 'individuals or companies hiring this equipment should also ensure that they are fully aware of the capabilities of such machinery and their possible dangers and that they are sufficiently trained to identify any faults in the equipment'.
Colin Wood of the Construction Plant-hire Association and chairman of the Strategic Forum's Plant Safety Group said the exact practical ramifications were still unclear. However, he said the emphasis was likely to be on carrying out proactive preventative maintenance to the manufacturers' requirements rather than just responding to breakdowns and damage.
He said in terms of safety the age of the kit wasn't as important as its maintenance and that plant owners must carry out proper inspections and repairs and also have the records to show this has been done.
The government's response comes at a time when many plant owners have reined back on fleet renewals and are seeing the age of their equipment increase. "Older equipment isn't inherently unsafe but it requires a different approach to maintenance," Wood concluded.
SED 2011 17th - 19th May Rockingham Motor Speedway, Corby Northamptonshire.
1 Redgrave Court
Merton Road
Bootle
Merseyside
L20 7HS
UK
Neil Weir
www.hse.gov.uk