Training for a safer more sustainable future
In the UK, construction is one of the country's largest and most dangerous industries - according to the Health and Safety Executive, it is responsible for 32% of all work related deaths. Ian Nicol, managing director of Active, explains what benefits are available to businesses who invest in health and safety training and why it is essential that H&S procedures develop in line with the industry as a whole.
Aberdeen-based Active is a specialist in all areas of both traditional and sustainable energy systems for heating and cooling the home and office. The firm has recently agreed a three year contract with local health and safety consultancy, Safety Scotland, and plans to invest approximately £70,000 towards health and safety related training and development throughout 2008.
Ian said: "The safety of our staff is of the utmost importance. By looking after the interests of our engineers and apprentices who are often involved in complex construction projects we can be sure that we retain and attract the best people who appreciate our caution and attention to detail.
"Working together with Safety Scotland we aim to exceed the standard requirements for health and safety giving our clients peace of mind and confidence in the standard of our work."
Fully independent health and safety consultancy, Safety Scotland Ltd, provide tailored H&S solutions for companies throughout Scotland. The local firm will be responsible for all of Active's H&S training across every level of the organisation as well as independently auditing projects on site to ensure the highest H&S standards are being adhered to at all times.
Ron Murray, managing director, Safety Scotland, explained: "Regular training is an essential component of the modern safety management system. We will be working closely with the teams at Active to offer ongoing advice to keep the company in line, if not ahead, of constantly changing legislation regarding H&S."
Keeping ahead of H&S regulations is even more important for Active due to the nature of the fast moving construction industry. With the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) revealing that 94% of construction professionals believe that ‘green' building is the future for the industry, the company is already focusing on providing Scotland with a leading sustainable energy service.
"Active is one of the few companies in the industry which has truly embraced the future and is already providing sustainable energy solutions to the construction sector. The new technologies and working practices involved when installing systems such as heat pumps or solar panels come with their own unique safety issues which must be explored."
"By working in partnership with Safety Scotland to identify and overcome these issues we hope to set a standard within the sustainable energy systems sector protecting both our staff and clients interests as well as benefiting the industry as a whole," explained Ian.
Active is a clear example of how a small business can offer both staff and clients peace of mind when it comes to health and safety. As the construction industry looks towards developing a greener, more sustainable future, businesses must move quickly and invest both time and money towards training their staff in line with the new technologies and standards.
