Training to build a safer future at Moss Construction

Citation

(2005), "Training to build a safer future at Moss Construction", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 37 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.2005.03737gab.006

Training to build a safer future at Moss Construction

A company with an active approach to health and safety training was disappointed to hear UK deputy prime minister John Prescott condemn the construction industry’s poor safety record at a conference three years ago. Mr Prescott had blamed “loss of skills and experience and lack of training” as contributing to the industry’s “totally unacceptable” record.

As a firm with adequate safety systems already in place, Moss Construction decided that it wanted to make a stronger contribution towards making the industry a safer place to work. Moss recognised that adequate was not outstanding and that if it was to play a meaningful role in influencing other parts of the industry, it must be recognised and respected as a company setting standards for others to follow.

Divisional director John Turner said: “John Prescott’s comments were disappointing but challenging. We were already focused on continually improving safe working procedures but our reaction was to consider our position with regard to our safety management and training and to develop a plan of action to improve our performance in these key areas”.

Moss Construction, part of the Kier Group, evolved from a small family business into one employing 300 people from offices at Cheltenham, Newbury and Birmingham. The company employs around 750 subcontractors on its sites at any one time.

“Because of the rapid growth of our business in recent years, we recognised the potential for dilution of our existing health and safety culture as new staff joined and turnover grew”, explained John Turner. “We decided to introduce a programme including an increase in staff safety training days, poster campaigns, toolbox talks, on-the-job discussions of safety issues and site inductions to ensure that everyone visiting a Moss site is briefed and trained to a level at which they are able to work safely on our sites”.

In line with the major contractors’ group health and safety charter, Moss has registered its direct workforce under the construction skills certificate scheme (CSCS). Once trained and tested successfully for competence in both appropriate management or supervisory skills and health and safety matters, staff receive a card listing their qualifications. Similarly, subcontractors are asked to provide a CSCS-accredited workforce card to demonstrate trade and safety competence, and a central database of certified operatives is maintained. Moss offers help to sub-contractors struggling to meet the requirement, by providing training where appropriate.

Senior managers attend monthly meetings and visiting safety officers monitor site training. In addition, a health and safety trainer has been appointed and established at a dedicated training centre at Chawston, Bedfordshire.

Moss has consistently reduced accidents to well below the national average, earning it the gold award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. The number of reportable accidents and dangerous occurrences has fallen by three-quarters in less than four years. The firm has also won a European Week for Health and Safety award.

John Turner concluded: “While we achieved everything we set out to do in the short term, there is no room for complacency in this industry. We are dedicated to continually reviewing and raising our health and safety standards and are committed to sharing our knowledge industry-wide”. Training is a key part of this process.