The report presented at the National Construction Health and Safety Conference evaluates the principal obstacles in risk prevention
The Sando Fundación hosted the First National Construction Health and Safety Conference this morning in Valencia. The conference included the presentation of a report on workplace risk prevention in the sector conducted by experts in the field during 2008.
The study was carried out by the Sando Fundación in partnership with the Workplace Health and Safety Institute of Valencia (INVASSAT) and the Prevevida Foundation. The report deals with the issue of workplace risk prevention in the construction industry and evaluates the positive and negative aspects of the current situation.
Miguel Ángel Tarín, Director of INVASSAT, and Federico Artola, Director of Sando’s Joint Risk Prevention Service, presented the conclusions of the study. The report highlights the effect of the Subcontracting Act, which prevents the proliferation of excessive levels of subcontracting in the Construction sector. “This regulation excludes from the sector, so-called “ghost” companies, those without a real structure, which take advantage of intermediation” said Federico Artola
According to the study, improved worker training and job stability – issues enforced by the new law – will contribute to reducing the number of workplace accidents. Finally, the report identifies the lack of public and private resources and the importance of improvement in this area: “In times of crisis companies should promote Workplace Risk Prevention”, indicated Federico Artola
The inauguration of the event was presided over by Mr. Luis Sánchez Manzano, vice-president and CEO of Sando, accompanied by Mr. Román Ceballos, general director of Employment, Cooperatives and Social Economics at the Ministry of Economy, Revenue and Employment of the Generalitat Valenciana, and Ismael Ferrer Domingo, general director of Public Works at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport of the Generalitat Valenciana.
Mr. Luis Sánchez Manzano highlighted the need to continue to hold events such as the Conference in order to raise awareness of this issue among the general public. He also offered Sando’s workplace accident figure: “We are proud to report that Sando reduced the number of accidents by 23% during 2008, and that all of these accidents were considered minor”.
The talk by Mr. Román Ceballos focussed on the strategy of the European Union in risk prevention over recent years, outlining the objectives for the period 2007-2012: “A 25% reduction in workplace accidents in the EU and for figures in Spain to drop from 5.8% in 2008 to 4.35% by 2012”. Mr. Ceballos also emphasised the need to adapt prevention norms to growing presence of women in the construction sector.
The general director of Infrastructures, Mr. Ismael Ferrer, deplored the abusive delegation of risk prevention responsibilities to subcontractors with limited means. He also commented on the need to promote education and awareness about workplace risk prevention: “Initiatives like this study, this conference or the awards organised by the Sando Fundación have a positive impact on health and safety standards in the workplace”.
During the round table discussion entitled: “The benefits of the Subcontracting Act in the construction sector” and the debate which followed, explained the origins of the new law in Parliament, the contribution of private enterprises in the drafting of the law and the obligation to disassociate the word subcontracting notions of fraud and intermediation.
Finally, Mr. Miguel Ángel Tarín Remohí, Director of INVASSAT, presided over the Sando Construcción Health and Safety Awards and the closing act together with Mr. Luis Sánchez Manzano, vice-president and CEO of Sando, Juan Castillo Carpio, dean of the College of Architects of the Community of Valencia and Mr. Juan Francisco Lazcano, president of the National Construction Federation.
The Sando Fundación’s Construction Health and Safety Awards thus concluded its seventh year. These awards are aimed at recognising and promoting a culture of risk prevention awareness among Sando employees and other companies.
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