A new health and safety guidance has been launched for the construction industry in a bid to encourage better management of health risks.

The Occupational Health Risk Management in Construction guide has been written by the Construction Industry Advisory Committee (ConIAC) Health Risks Working Group, alongside the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

The guide offers advice on what 'health risk' means for the industry, including the role of occupational health service provision in preventing or controlling those risks.

During a recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection drive, more than 200 enforcement notices were issued.

HSE said the inspections results showed a 'widespread misunderstanding' of what 'occupational health' means in construction, revealing a misguided perception that health is more difficult to manage than safety.

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Ian Strudley, Chair of the ConIAC Health Risks Working Group and HSE Principal Specialist Inspector, said: "The misunderstanding of occupational health within the construction sector means that whilst the industry focus on managing the more familiar safety issues, serious health risks get ignored. We cannot let this continue.

"When figures show that construction workers are at least 100 times more likely to die from a disease caused or made worse by their work as they are from a fatal accident, the industry must take action."

Shelley Frost, Executive Director – Policy at IOSH, added: "There have been huge advances in improving safety in the construction sector over the last 15 years but the industry has yet to generate such advances in improving the picture in occupational health.

"This new guide raises awareness of the occupational health issues in construction, demystifies how to best manage them and provides information as to where firms can get help and assistance."

To view the guide, click here.

(LM)