BUILDING FABRIC 45


MITIGATE ONSITE RISKS WITH OFFSITE SOLUTIONS


Following a recent survey conducted by Housebuilder & Developer (which found that 58% of readers cited health and safety as their organisation’s most important concern), Philip Pointon of Saint-Gobain Off -Site Solutions looks at how off site manufacturing can mitigate onsite risks.


MANUFACTURING ENGINEERED TRUSSED RAFTERS AND FLOOR SOLUTIONS FOR PROJECTS IN A CONTROLLED OFFSITE ENVIRONMENT OFFERS THE ABILITY TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE NEED FOR WORKING AT HEIGHT


T


he construction industry has one of the worst records for health and safety – we are all too familiar with the stark statistic that the fatal injury rate is four times higher than the all-industry average. According to the latest fi gures on the construction sector from the Health and Safety Executive, there were 39 fatal injuries to workers in 2020/21, a slight increase on the 36 fatalities for 2016/17- 2020/21. There were also a hugely signifi cant , non-fatal inuries, averaged over the three-year period 2018/19-2020/21.


Falls from height comprise half of all these injuries and, when compared with data from all other industrial sectors, are more than double the rate. Across the supply chain, it is not uncommon for suppliers to reject bidding opportunities because they deem the project to carry too much risk – while contractors are becoming increasingly selective in their choice of provider, based on their safety track record.


So, it came as no surprise that health and safety is cited as a key concern for housebuilders, but what the survey did highlight was some fresh insights into


how respondents are seeking new ways to resolve common issues.


SAFE DELIVERIES


One such example is in the safe delivery of materials, particularly during unloading to ensure the driver, and nearby workers’ safety. Concerns raised included the method for unloading and the requirement for onsite manual handling, both of which are seen as potential risks. Fabricating offsite in a quality, process- driven manufacturing environment can help to alleviate many of these concerns.


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