Slips, trips and falls remain the major cause of accidents
Slips, trips and falls have topped the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) 2013 safety report for the 10th year running.
The annual report, which documents the statistics for scaffolding safety in 2012 for all 201 of the NASC’s contracting member companies, provides details of injuries and fatalities, and causes and analysis of accidents and injuries to operatives, third parties, and members of the public.
The statistics show that there was one fatality in 2012 and that slips, trips and falls are still the major cause of accidents and injuries in the industry, making up 34 per cent of all accidents and injuries.
The report reveals that with 52 per cent of accidents, scaffolders remain the most at risk, followed by labourers (25 per cent), trainees (10 per cent), advanced scaffolders (8 per cent), supervisors and drivers (both at 3 per cent), and managers (0 per cent).
The 21 — 30 age group is the most at risk, with more reported incidents than any other age rang. On a positive note, the report also reveals that the total number of injuries reduced from 145 to 134 from 2011 to 2012.
Manual handling injuries decreased significantly from 37 to 17, a reduction of 54 per cent. However, falls from height accidents increased from 27 to 32 in 2012.
The report obtained the accident statistics over a three-day and seven-day period, together with a comparison of NASC accident data with industry statistics supplied by the HSE.
NASC president, Rob Lynch, said: “The NASC’s annual safety report is just one step in the right direction. By recording and sharing the problems we have had, we can focus our efforts on those areas needing most improvement.
“The NASC is proud of the part it has played in raising the bar for safe scaffolding. The expectations are incomparably higher now then they were at the millennium; just consider how far we have come and the vast volume of guidance and advice issued.”
Slips, trips and falls remain the major cause of accidents
Slips, trips and falls have topped the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) 2013 safety report for the 10th year running.
Safety & Health Practitioner
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