Electrical Contractors' Association provides guidance for health and safety regulations

Citation

(2001), "Electrical Contractors' Association provides guidance for health and safety regulations", Facilities, Vol. 19 No. 3/4. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.2001.06919cab.010

Electrical Contractors' Association provides guidance for health and safety regulations

Electrical Contractors' Association provides guidance for health and safety regulations

Keywords: Health and safety, Workplace injuries, Construction industry

Poor planning, badly managed projects and clients picking the lowest price are blamed for the 22 per cent rise in the number of construction fatalities last year to 79. This represents one third of all workplace deaths. New figures from the Health and Safety Commission for the year beginning 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 show that major injuries have also risen from 4,656 last year to 4,689. As part of its ongoing campaign for safer construction, the ECA has published a leaflet describing the legal obligations of clients concerning construction sites.

The leaflet provides guidance for the Health and Safety Executive "Construction (Design and Management) Regulations" (CDM). The CDM Regulations were implemented to reduce the large number of fatal accidents and cases of ill health, which happen every year in the construction industry. Responsibility is placed upon clients, designers and contractors, and a new position of responsibility has been created – planning supervisor.

Clients are required to provide information about the land and existing buildings. The client must also appoint the planning supervisor, designers and principal contractor, and allow sufficient resources to enable the project to be carried out in compliance with the regulations, and ensure that work does not begin until a health and safety plan has been prepared. On completion of the project it is the client's responsibility to make sure the health and safety file is available for inspection.

Under the CDM Regulations construction includes electrical, mechanical and other building services. Members of the ECA can be of help to clients in respect of the CDM Regulations because they already have to meet strict criteria on not only technical and business competence, but also on health and safety issues, before they are allowed to join the ECA. Furthermore, all ECA members participate in the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme, a development of the Register of Electricians and the JIB/SJIB Grade Card, all of whom will have a photo-identification card. It identifies the level of competence of properly trained electricians and also demonstrates that the holder is fully aware of their on-site safety obligations, and certification has to be renewed every three years. Proof of this allows construction clients to help meet their CDM statutory requirements in respect of the individual's safety awareness.

David Pollock, director of the Electrical Contractors' Association, commented:

Since its foundation the ECA has had a strong commitment to safety issues and we hope that the provision of this leaflet will help clients to understand their obligations under the CDM Regulations, and know the importance of employing only electricians with recognised qualifications from a reputable industry organisation. Involvement in the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme is proof of the ECA commitment to safety and also of considerable benefit to clients.