20 January 2012

Construction industry professionals and ICE members gathered in London recently to discuss the business case for improved health and safety in the workplace at the ICE & Costain 2011 Health & Safety Lecture.

Hosted by Costain’s Environment Managing Director, Alan Kay, speakers from Government, regulation and employers discussed whether investment in occupational health brought universal benefits to individuals, businesses and the taxpayer, and whether health and safety actually improved operational performance by reducing the propensity for accidents to happen on site.

Speakers included Dame Carol Black, Professor of Rheumatology at UCL and the first National Director for Health and Work whose Department of Works and Pensions review “Working for a Healthier Tomorrow” found that ill health amongst the working population costs the UK £100billion a year.

Also speaking was Philip White, the HSE’s Chief Inspector of Construction and formerly an advisor at the DWP, and Lawrence Waterman, the Head of Health & Safety at the Olympic Delivery Authority, who was previously Occupational Health Advisor to Heathrow Terminal 5, and a founder-member of Sypol, a risk management services company specialising in health and safety.

Commenting on the event, Alan Kay said: “I would like to thank the speakers and everyone who attended the lecture for making it a success. The health and general wellbeing of a workforce is at the forefront of what we do as a business and fostering a safe working environment is imperative for protecting all stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers and the general public.”

 

Ends