Keeping people safe in the construction industry is never easy, even in the smallest of projects. But the 70 deaths a year that take place in the UK is something the industry must change quickly.
Keeping people safe in the construction industry is never easy, even in the smallest of projects. But the 70 deaths a year that take place in the UK is something the industry must change quickly.
By sharing knowledge with expert health and safety practitioners in the construction industry not only from the UK and Ireland, but the USA, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and Belgium, solutions from all corners of the world can be put to use for the benefit of construction industry workers.
InterConstruct 06, which takes place at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on 23-24 August, includes two full days of presentations on current topics for the construction industry and plenty of opportunities to network with colleagues in enjoyable, relaxed settings.
John Lacey, chair of the working group that has organised InterConstruct, said: “The construction industry still has some way to go to improve its health and safety record. It’s at events like InterConstruct that practitioners can learn how to play their part in achieving this.
“Because of the nature of the industry, many different contractors can be working on a site at the same time. This presents the health and safety practitioner with many challenges — challenges we have to get right because these are often life or death situations.
“I’d urge anyone who works in or with the construction industry to get to Dublin on 23-24 August. It’s the health and safety practitioner’s chance to learn how we can slice into that unfortunate death toll, making construction a more desirable place for people to work.”
Leading speakers
Keynote speakers at InterConstruct include:
– Tony Killeen, the Irish Minister for Labour Affairs;
– Tom Beegan, the chief executive of the Irish Health and Safety Authority;
– Stephen Williams, the chief inspector of construction at the Health and Safety Executive.
There are also a number of speakers from across the globe, including:
– Neville Betts, past president of the Safety Institute of Australia (SIA);
– Eldeen Pozniak, president elect of the Canadian Society of Safety Engineers (CSSE);
– Shawn King, safety and health manager at Black and Veatch;
– Tim Fisher, director, practices and standards at the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE);
– Patrick Godelie, general manager at VEKMO nv.
Wembley wonder
Kevin Lennon, health and safety advisor at Multiplex Constructions (UK) Ltd, will give an insight into the work that has gone on to construct the New Wembley National Stadium.
Kevin will take delegates through the new stadium’s early life up to its current status and beyond. If you ever wanted to know how the Arch which spans 315 metres was painstakingly put into place, or why the stadium is designed how it is, now is the time to find out.
The presentation also gives an idea of the views people will have in the new stadium, and will cover some of the other issues that need to be considered during large construction projects, including liaising with interested parties, staff welfare, transport planning, and training.
Corporate amnesia
John Carpenter, secretary of the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS) will be giving a presentation to get anyone working in construction thinking “have engineers and construction health and safety practitioners really grasped the nettle?” John will point out that it is important to fight ‘corporate amnesia’ to prevent disasters happening — especially since most failures occur through simple errors, which have happened before and can be predicted.
If you’ve not booked yet, you need to move quickly. All bookings must be made by 4 August by calling the events team on 0116 257 3231 or emailing [email protected] Tickets are priced £520 + VAT/€760 + VAT for the full conference, or £240 + VAT/€350 + VAT for a day pass.
