New guidance has been launched to prevent and reduce the number of construction workers contracting occupational diseases…
The Construction Industry Advisory Committee (ConIAC) Health Risks Working Group with assistance from the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) have produced new guidance aimed at managing occupational health risks.
Hundreds of workers die every month due to occupational diseases. A recent inspection initiative carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) resulted in more than 200 health-related enforcement notices being issued. While there have been significant improvements in the sector there is still a way to go to ensure the safety of construction employees.
The document, ‘Occupational health risk management in construction’, offers advice on the types of health risks seen within the industry, as well as the role occupational health service provision plays in preventing and controlling those risks.
Chair of the ConIAC Health Risks Working Group and HSE principal specialist inspector Ian Strudley said: “The misunderstanding of occupational health within the construction sector means that whilst the industry focus on managing the more familiar safety issues, serious health risks get ignored. We cannot let this continue.
“When figures show that construction workers are at least 100 times more likely to die from a disease caused or made worse by their work as they are from a fatal accident, the industry must take action.”
Shelley Frost, Executive Director – Policy at IOSH, said: “There have been huge advances in improving safety in the construction sector over the last 15 years but the industry has yet to generate such advances in improving the picture in occupational health.
“Every week, 100 people die from construction-related ill health in the UK. Less than half of construction workers also stay employed in the industry until they are 60.
“This new guide raises awareness of the occupational health issues in construction, demystifies how to best manage them and provides information as to where firms can get help and assistance.
“Ultimately, if the advice is followed, it could help to lower incidence rates of occupational ill-health and transform the perception of working in construction to that of an attractive and respectful industry with great career choices.”
