Robert Parkes of the Health and Safety Executive’s Construction Division, said: "Tragically, last year, 38 people died on these types of projects and many more were injured or suffered ill-health because of poor health and safety practices. Whether you think of yourself as a property investor, developer or renovator, everyone has a role to play in helping reduce the number of serious and sometimes fatal incidents."
HSE has worked with representatives from across the construction industry to develop the campaign. Chris Tisi, who chairs the campaign stakeholder group said: "I’ve been involved in development of property in various capacities over 35 years and found that health and safety has to be an integral part of any project in bringing it to completion on time and to budget. In my experience a safe and healthy site is a successful site."
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Bob Blackman, of Unite union, said: "As a union that represents thousands of construction workers, we know that health and safety is extremely important. No matter how big or small your property development is, health and safety should be seen as something that helps a development run smoothly and successfully, not as a cost that can be cut."
The HSE is campaigning after it discovered that many people developing property for business do not know about the legal responsibilities clients have under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.
Between 1999 & 2007, 340 people died on refurbishment sites and last year alone, it was responsible for over half (52%) of construction fatalities, some 38 deaths, with falls from height and electrocution accounting for most of these.
Parkes concluded: "If you see yourself as a property developer, I would urge you to visit hse.gov.uk/property for free advice on what you need to know and what you need to do."
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