COMMENT
Why Workplace Safety & Health Matters Andrew Mills, chair of GOSHA, gives us an overview of the current situation on the island. The Guernsey Occupational Safety & Health Association (GOSHA) was formed in 2004. At that time there was no health and safety at work law in Guernsey and there was little law to prompt businesses to act proactively in managing workplace safety.
industry. In fact, it is so important that the Health and Safety Executive has helped to produce a new Construction Approved Code of Practice, which is being introduced this year and must be followed. Do you know about it? If you don’t, ask us.
Since that time, we have endeavoured to provide a conduit for providing information to those without awareness or who need to know more. In that period, serious, reportable workplace incidents have halved in number, from over 500 in a 12 month period.
Asbestos has been a problem in Guernsey for some time. It was only banned here a couple of years after the UK, so it was extensively used in our construction industry when it was offloaded cheaply to us by UK businesses. It is a great fireretardant material but when disturbed, its tiny fibres can easily lead to mesothelioma or asbestosis.
We organise briefings on a range of relevant topics, site visits and provide a friendly forum to help businesses in Guernsey to be better informed. Where they are needed, we help to put businesses in touch with consultants, risk managers, trainers and, on occasion, the excellent local health and safety executive team, led by Robin Gonard.
Thankfully, it is banned from use in Guernsey now, except it is present in many properties. Everyone owning a building or working in it has a duty to know if it is present and to warn contractors and others of its presence before they can be affected by it. Do you know there is an Asbestos Approved Code of Practice? It’s there to keep you safe. Know it!
In the past, workplace safety and health has received plenty of press ridicule in the UK. It is often (incorrectly) cited as the reason why good or fun activities cannot take place. But health and safety management is about making worthwhile activities happen, safely, efficiently and well.
In the third week of January, we run Guernsey Workplaces Safety and Health Week. This year, we were delighted to cover fire safety (by Steve Wilkes of Fire Defence Services Ltd), Covid preparedness (Robin Gonard of HSE replacing Dr Brink, who was so busy protecting us all at the time, and still is of course) and Working at home/ alone/in confined spaces (by Matt Coggins of Guernsey HSE). Over 200 people attended the briefings, which were kindly sponsored by local insurer, Sapphire Underwriting, and they were all relevant and well-received by those who attended.
Proactive health and safety management at work makes for better businesses. Staff feel more valued, are trained to do things correctly, and are properly protected when working with things which are hazardous. In fact, often things happen more effectively when safety and health is thought about and managed properly. The construction and property owning and management industries in Guernsey can be dangerous to those who work in them. Construction is, by its nature, one of the most dangerous industries to work in in Guernsey. Many years ago people were regularly badly hurt. Falling from ladders, being hit by heavy, hard objects, causing injury from lifting or picking up heavy objects, contracting a nasty illness from dangerous substances harmful to health are just some examples of why this is such an important topic in the construction
There is so much to know if you work in the construction industry or manage or own property in Guernsey. Not only are you responsible for your own safety but also for those who use the property or who work for you, neighbours, in fact anyone who can be affected. The consequences of a serious accident or illness can be catastrophic. I have seen the effects from loss of a good reputation to having to tell a partner that their spouse isn’t coming home to their family. Don’t let it happen to you. A serious workplace accident or illness can put you out of business and it can wreck lives. www.gosha.org.gg
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Guernsey Property and Construction
