How do we improve the culture safety on construction projects?
How to improve the culture of safety on construction projects is a key part of Health and Safety in the UK construction industry and it is something that is constantly evolving as the industry in general evolves, adapts to change and moves forward.
So what are some of the factors that influence culture generally within the construction industry?
Technology, technological progress and adapting to technical change.
Changes in construction details, construction methods and advances in materials.
Working methods and systems of work.
This shouldn’t be a surprise to us when we consider why the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is an enabling act. As an enabling act, the Health and safety at Work etc Act 1974 can be viewed as an umbrella to which other health and safety regulations can be incorporated, slotted under, reviewed and amended as required. The key part to this is the ability to introduce new regulation or amend existing far more quickly than you otherwise could.
Making the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 an enabling act was an acknowledgement that the world of work is dynamic and forever evolving. An acknowledgement that as the workplace adapts to technological progress, construction methods change and working methods evolve, legislation will need to evolve in order to keep pace with change.
So if an ever evolving workplace played a key role in defining the structure of the main piece of health and safety legislation in the UK, a dynamic and evolving workplace is always going to have an influence in the culture of safety in the workplace.
The core elements that should be considered by organisations who want to influence the culture of safety within their company:
Management attitudes & commitment
Safety training
Communications
Safety practice
Risk perception
Employee involvement
Work pressure
In part two of this blog we’ll look at the core elements listed above in more depth and we’ll also take a look at internal/ external influencers, strategies and intervention. In the meantime, if you require any further assistance with any of the topics raised in this post or assistance with health and safety, please get in touch.