An important project examining what measures the construction industry has taken to avert accidents on a catastrophic scale has been carried out for the Health and Safety Executive by researchers from CIRIA and Loughborough University. The overall message is that much more needs to be done; the alarming conclusion though is that many who should know better are not doing anything.
One conclusion drawn by the researchers is to reject the notion that people who work on construction sites are risk tolerant, becoming conditioned to accepting high risk because they see it all around them each day. Things might be worse than that – research shows that they simply do not appreciate the hazards.
The definition of catastrophe used for the report is loose, but it would include multiple death incidents or those involving large scale damage to infrastructure such as roads and railways and power plants. They are of the sort that can generate large scale adverse publicity for companies and individuals in those companies, create calls for public inquiries and result in legislative changes.
The report acknowledges that such events are rare in the UK and our track record is better than that of some other countries, which is good news. But if our approach to risk management is inadequate then that might be explicable in terms of random factors. Most of the case studies in the report could have had far worse consequences; they were only potentially catastrophic. But this was due to chance rather than the success of measures adopted on those projects, say the researchers. Complacency is unjustified.
Insurance companies and funding institutions are taking a closer look at corporate risk management procedures and the Corporate Manslaughter Act should have concentrated minds on their importance. But even companies with creditable safety performances when routine safety statistics like lost time injuries are considered may be embracing a false sense of security, while the factors that can contribute to catastrophe are overlooked. The chemicals and petrochemicals industries either have or are currently introducing appropriate performance indicators, but the report says there is nothing on the horizon for construction.
The report’s authors hope that raising awareness of the crucial need for adequate risk management procedures in construction among senior management and other stakeholders like project clients and funders will benefit health and safety generally – if the big picture is being addressed comprehensively then the smaller risks could become more clear and hence better managed.
The research for the report showed overwhelming support within the industry for the proposition that extra precautions should be taken when construction involves a major risk to lots of people. Identifying the risks and deciding on steps to take is then the issue.
The industry has been challenged by this report to devise an improved, adequate approach to safety risk management that will ensure that catastrophic events are properly considered and appropriate measures adopted to minimise their risk. CIRIA aims to produce a guide on the topic along with best practice type case studies. It needs to come soon – good news doesn’t last forever.
Nick Barrett
Editor