Retain Limited
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A new study by Herts Tools has shown that injuries and ill-health in the UK construction industry are now costing over £16.2 billion
In 2018/19, £3.6 billion of this was incurred by employers and £3.5 billion by the government. The majority of these costs, £9.56 billion, were incurred by the injured and ill individuals. In 2020, the total economic cost of construction industry injuries increased by 34% compared to 2018.
The data also suggests that some people are not taking days off when they are sick or injured, which could have adverse effects on their mental and physical wellbeing. Between 2015/16 and 2019/20, the industry lost 4.5 million working days due to illness or injury. This dropped to 2.1 million between 2017/18 and 2019/20, from 2.4 million between 2015/16 and 2017/18, a 12% decrease.
These statistics were taken from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports from 2018 to 2021 and compiled by Herts Tools.
There are ways that we can prevent accidents, however. At Retain Limited, we adhere to strict rules and guidelines set out by the government and trade associations, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974). Some of these basic rules are as follows:
- Plan any work at height and provide proper training
- Use the right equipment for the job, including PPE
- Make sure equipment is properly fitted and checked regularly
- Keep surfaces clean and dry
- Clear up spillages as soon as possible
- Clean surfaces after working hours if possible
- Check for loose or damaged flooring
- Provide good lighting
- Install safety guards, guard rails etc and supply safety goggles
- Store heavy objects close to the ground and outlaw the throwing of objects/tools
There are certainly a lot more guidelines and rules than this list, due to the industry being more complicated and in-depth than most other industries. But it’s important to make sure that these basic rules are adhered to at all times, to create a safe working environment for your workforce and anyone else involved with a site project. Check out our Changes to PPE blog and our Gold Award 2021 blog to see more of the ways that we go above and beyond in health and safety.
To learn more about our services or to enquire about anything else, please contact the Retain team.
