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Health and Safety

We're Here to Make Our Industry Safer.

There is no doubt that construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the UK. Every year dozens of people die on site, several thousands get injured or develop work-related health problems. This is why improving health and safety on construction sites plays a key role in UCATT's daily work and ongoing campaigns. We want employers to comply with the existing health and safety regulations, and we want workers to know their rights. Every worker also needs to have a good grasp of major workplace dangers so they can contribute to a better protection.

In the section Key Health and Safety Issues you find information about major health and safety issues such as:

  • information on workplace hazards
  • guidance on what each worker can do to prevent injuries and work-related ill health
  • legal developments and
  • information on and for safety reps.

You can also download the bi-monthly Health and Safety News bulletins which provide updates about ongoing developments and events.

Key Health & Safety Issues

Print

Friday, 01 August 2008

Constructing Better Health

Construction Better Health is the industry-backed occupational health scheme for the construction sector.

Following a successful regional pilot and a subsequent period of industry consultation, in August 2007 CBH has become an operational entity to deliver the national occupational health scheme. UCATT has been an active supporter of the scheme, and General Secretary Alan Ritchie is a member of CBH’s board.

CBH has several concrete aims, which include

·       the setting of Industry Standards for work related health issues and competency of occupational health providers,

·       building a construction specific knowledge portal, giving advice, guidance and support in the management of health related risks

  • centralising the collection of work related health data to ensure the future improvement of workforce health and the provision of a ‘benchmark’ for industry
  • transmitting data to manage work related health risks at site level
  • providing a referral route through to specialists in the field of return to work and rehabilitation.

In October 2007 CBH published the scheme’s Occupational Health Standards. The purpose of the standards is to provide key stakeholders with a best practice guide for work-place health and fitness for work requirements in the construction industry. In February 2008 CBH released its Standards for Occupational Health Service Providers. The purpose of these standards is to set a benchmark for occupational health service providers working in the construction industry and to provide guidance on clinical information.

In summer 2008 CBH has opened for business. As short-term aim it will approach safety-critical workers, major projects and large ‘top end’ contractors. Several large contractors have already committed to implement the scheme from its launch date. Approaching SME’s, self-employed workers and micros will be the medium term and continuous target of the scheme.

Future plans of CBH include web access to an online search and booking facility for health surveillance and ‘fit for task’ health checks for safety critical workers.

For more information please go to the website at www.constructingbetterhealth.co.uk