Asbestos and construction industries targeted in work safety clampdown

Sunday 05 November 2017

Work-related accidents and ill health pushed short-term incapacity pay-outs of over £1million last year and nearly 40,000 days lost – now Health and Safety officials say they’re working to bring that figure down.

While the total number of claims for Short-term Incapacity Allowance (STIA) fell to their lowest number since 2006 last year (1,356), the States’ Director of Health and Safety Tammy Fage described the figures as “still too high.”

In 2016, the Health and Safety Inspectorate received 163 formal complaints about workplace issues and conducted 58 investigations into serious accidents.

Injuries and ill health linked with workplaces were found to have significantly contributed to the amount of working days lost last year – 38,818 in total.

But Mrs Fage said that, while the Inspectorate have “limited resources”, they were hoping to drive a reduction in overall figures by directly targeting high-risk companies.

Last year, asbestos removal, aerial tree work and construction were particularly targeted. Such engagement involved both targeted campaigns and unannounced visits.

Pictured: The Health and Safety Inspectorate said that they had worked with the construction industry on new regulations.

Mrs Fage told Express that the Inspectorate work closely with key industry bodies. 2016 saw them partner with the Jersey Safety Council and Jersey Construction Council to deliver key health and safety messages. The team also liaised with the construction sector on new regulations for the industry.

Ultimately, however, responsibility for controlling risks lies with employers.

“Employers, and those in control of working activities, must therefore regularly review and assess the risks associated with their work to ensure that they are taking all reasonably practicable steps to prevent anybody being injured. A proactive approach to managing health and safety across all levels of an organisation will result in a safer and healthier working environment and a reduction in  costs through sickness absence and other indirect financial penalties such as insurance premiums and legal fees as well as reputational risks,” Mrs Fage added.