HEALTH & SAFETY WORKING CULTURE
The work culture on construction sites tends to be macho and sometimes aggressive. The only way to break down barriers and encourage people to speak about health and safety is to be transparent and, as David argues, “you need to show your workforce that when they speak up they’ll be taken seriously.”
However, creating and sustaining a consistent approach to safety takes hard work. David continues “It isn’t all strawberries and cream. If you ask our guys whether there’s a level playing field on site then they’ll probably tell you that the sub-contractors get away with more. They’re probably right; creating a level playing field is something we have to keep working at.”
COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS SAFETY IMPROVEMENT The HSE is looking to companies like Global Construction and ScottishPower Renewables to lift standards by leading on safety through their supply chain. Companies – whether they are producers or contractors – can always exercise influence through the way they award contracts. David comments “our power to influence comes from the fact that
we’ve won the business and if people want a piece of that, then they have to operate to our standards.”
Continuous improvement also relies on the willingness of organisations – wherever they are in the supply chain - to learn from and share practice with one another. David states “When we work with a Principal Contractor we take the attitude that their guys have different methods that we have to adopt. But this is also a learning opportunity for us. We see how their methods can enhance our own working practice.”
CONCLUSION
Global Construction is among those forward thinking contractors that recognise that their commitment to continuous improvement on safety is a key differentiator. “Health & safety is always important to us. It’s about making sure that the guys who come into work in the morning go home again. Most of these guys have worked with us for many years and they’re important to us. But health & safety is also good for business. I believe that our commitment will make a difference to how we’re seen by potential clients.” David concluded.
Construction Intelligence Report - HSE **
Dr Esther Walker Forum Interactive
www.foruminteractive.co.uk
CORRECTION LAST ARTICLE: Chris Black is Head of Health, Safety & Quality at ScottishPower Renewables and is the former chair of the RenewableUK Lessons Learnt scheme
First renewable energy health and safety awards scheme unveiled
RenewableUK and The Crown Estate are delighted to announce the creation of the first ever health and safety awards scheme, to recognise outstanding performance in the renewable energy sector.
The initiative will be open to all renewable energy technologies, and is another example of renewable industries working together to take a global lead on a highly important issue.
Full details of the scheme, including the application process and assessment criteria, will be published shortly. The first annual winner will be announced at the RenewableUK Health and Safety Conference on 1st February 2012.
REASONING
The main purpose is to recognise the development, implementation and sharing of best practice in health and safety across the industry. It is hoped that such examples will act as a beacon to drive and deliver the highest health and safety standards over what will be a critical stage of growth for the renewable energy sector.
JOINT INITIATIVE This is a joint initiative by the RenewableUK and The Crown Estate. It will also involve the support and contribution of all key industry stakeholders to make the awards scheme a success.
Maria McCaffery MBE, Chief Executive of RenewableUK, said “The awards scheme is a tangible example of the paramount importance we attach to health and safety within the renewable energy sector. We already have an outstanding record on this issue, thanks
to the dedication of thousands of experts who ensure that risk assessments are carried out with an unparalleled degree of professionalism. These awards will serve to encourage best practice, and to ensure that this vital area of expertise is recognised in an appropriate manner”.
Rob Hastings, director of the marine estate, The Crown Estate said “Health and safety is crucial to the delivery of renewables programmes, and it’s essential that good practice gets shared industry-wide so that high standards are set. We view our role as helping and encouraging industry to share best practice, demonstrating our commitment to the safe and successful development of renewable energy in the UK”.
RenewableUK
www.renewable-uk.com The Crown estate
www.thecrownestate.co.uk www.windenergynetwork.co.uk 21
The challenge then, is for such companies to improve the way they communicate what they are doing to existing and potential clients and suppliers. Our final article we will present a case study showing how Global Construction is using innovative methods as a means of encouraging transparency on the construction site and to communicate that health and safety commitment to clients. The next article in the series will address this challenge from the producer’s perspective - ScottishPower Renewables.
Annual Health and Safety Report (RenewableUK 2010)*
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