Construction workers invited to HSE seminar

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has thrown open an invitation to workers in the construction industry, ahead of a safety briefing in May.

The half-day safety event is free to attend and will look at how workers and businesses in the construction industry can better safeguard everyone on site.

Safety experts in the industry will be addressing the audience, whilst HSE officers will also be in attendance on the day.

Looking at how accidents and exposure to hazards can be reduced, they will discuss matters such as risk assessments, personal protective equipment (PPE) and general health and wellbeing.

An employer to over two million workers in the UK, the construction industry has high levels of ill health and, in 2012/13, saw 39 fatalities on sites across the country. Nearly a third of these were self-employed workers, which is an area the HSE is keen to improve.

Talking ahead of the event at Keele University in Staffordshire, Chris Comerford , the chair of the Staffordshire and Shropshire Working Well Together group which is helping present the seminar, said:

“Too many people die or are injured every year on Britain’s construction sites as a result of entirely avoidable incidents.”

With construction site workers having four times the risk of being killed at work than the UK average, Comerford went on to say that the event's practical advice will help workers protect themselves and their co-workers.

The seminar takes place on Wednesday, 14th May, starting at 8.30am and running through until 12.30pm.