The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and The Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Working Well Together Group (LNRWWT) are hosting two special workshops in a bid to reduce the high rates of fatalities and serious injuries in the construction industry.

The workshops are the latest events in a nationwide series of Construction Safety, Health and Awareness Days (SHADs) to advise those in the business on good practice and safety procedures when on site.

In particular, the events will be aimed at small/medium contractors, sole traders and the self-employed, who together make up 83 per cent of the industry.

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Mrs Samantha Peace, Principal Construction Inspector for Leicestershire, said: "Small companies can sometimes miss out on health and safety information and developments in best practice. Small contractors can underestimate the impact poor health and safety performance can have on their own lives and those who work with them and the financial impact on their business if things go wrong. They can find training expensive and difficult to arrange. If you run a small building, construction or contracting company, or if you are self employed, these free events are a must."

Areas of greatest risk on construction sites will be highlighted and the latest information on a variety of topics including: Workplace Transport - Traffic management, Vehicle Maintenance, Safety features on workplace transport, Management of Asbestos and Legal responsibilities of managers.

The free half day events will take place at the Quality Hotel, Loughborough on 8 November and Leicestershire County Cricket Club, County Ground, Grace Road, Leicester on 29 November. Registration for both events commences at 8.30am for a 9am start.

In 2005/2006 there were 59 fatal injuries and 4419 major injuries to workers in construction.

(NS/JM)