Safety is creating opportunity

The phrase “commitment to safety” is often an overused term – but where safety is concerned, there must be total commitment. Inside this issue, our pages are sprinkled with references to improvements in safety. Where businesses do not meet these standards, action must be taken to penalise offenders and protect workers.

The much-needed review into why falls from height are still far too prevalent by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Working at Height should be welcomed (see page 3). The recommendations to strengthen reporting across the UK is a good foundation for industries to further raise safety standards and ensure safer working practices for those who work at height every day.

Enhanced reporting should not just end up on the shelf with other sets of statistics. The results must be reviewed and action has to be taken so that avoidable incidents don’t happen again.

In most cases, accidents involving a fall from height are needless and could be prevented with proper planning that ensures effective preventative and protective measures are in place, such as edge protection, harness use or just simple barriers built to the correct standard.

Safety is a key criteria against which potential clients assess their supply chain. If you turn up to a Pre-Qualification interview with a poor safety record, you might as well not turn up. Clients increasingly demand the highest standards and if you are able to demonstrate that your work follows rigorous procedures and you can do so via a truly independent audit, then you will stand out above your competitors.

Property development giant Landsec is the latest client to recognise that scaffolding contractors which can clearly demonstrate that they can deliver a high level of health, safety and security should have an opportunity to join the Landsec supply chain (see page 2). The Scaffolding Association’s Audited Member status does just this and provides a much larger scope for tendering and being recognised as a true specialist in our sector.

Total safety is not the preserve of larger contractors that may have the resources to supervise and provide the necessary training. Safety is an absolute pre-requisite for any contractor, on any contract, large or small, and it is becoming the key to opening doors to new opportunities.

Adrian JG Marsh Editor