A survey carried out by the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC), which comprises more than 30 specialist trade organisations, shows that its members have a lower fatal and major injury rate than the industry as a whole.
The findings of the 2010/11 accident survey, which was completed by more than 2500 specialist contractors, revealed a fatality rate of 1 per 100,000 workers compared, with an industry rate of 2.3 per 100,000, as reported by the HSE. The major injury rate for NSCC members was 168.8 per 100,000 workers, which is lower than the industry rate of 173.2 per 100,000.
These figures mean that the NSCC fatal-injury rate has fallen by 72 per cent over the last eight years, while the rate of major injuries has decreased by 52 per cent during the same period.
NSCC chief executive Suzannah Nichol explained that the survey proves that its members have a better safety record than non-members. She said: “During a recession, the focus on health and safety can become a victim of cost-cutting. However, these results demonstrate the continued priority of the specialist sector towards protecting the workforce.
“The collation of accident information is a requirement of NSCC membership and we will continue to work with all of our member organisations in 2011/12 to improve on the success of this survey.”
