Health and safety event for Grampian construction companies

Construction firms in Scotland’s Grampian region are being urged to head along to a free health and safety event taking place next week.

Organised in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the construction industry’s Working Well Together initiative, the half-day event, aimed at smaller firms working in the construction industry, takes place at the Engineering Lecture Theatre at the Rural College in Bucksburn, Aberdeen.

It will focus the safety issues which really matter to workers in the industry, with a particular emphasis on groundworks.

A series of demonstrations will take place through the day, covering the safe loading and unloading of materials, confined space and trend working, and the provision of safety workwear.

The principal inspector for the HSE, Isabelle Martin, explained the seriousness of the event:

“Incidents at the groundworks phase, for example trench collapses, can often be fatal, so it is vital that managers and company owners understand how to reduce risks on their sites.

“This free event will provide essential information and advice that could help save lives, so I urge local construction businesses to attend.”

As well as the demonstrations, the event – which takes place next Wednesday, September 17th – will also provide employers with practical advice, and offer solutions to some of the most common challenges affecting the industry.

The event comes ahead of the latest round of unannounced checks by the HSE on building sites. Starting on September 22nd, inspectors from the health and safety body will visit sites where work has already started on refurbishment or repair projects, paying close attention to high-risk activities, dust generating works and risks of asbestos exposure.