Construction Safety Partnership (Ireland)

“It is now over a decade since the establishment of the Construction Safety Partnership (CSP). It has been a time of unprecedented growth in the sector, with direct employment reaching 270,000 followed by a dramatic downturn in the past three years. Direct employment is forecast to fall below 100,000 in 2011. During the past decade new and revised Safety and Health Legislation has been introduced, the CSP has introduced new Safety initiatives to assist the industry and most importantly overall safety standards have continued to improve.

The CSP is committed to continue this trend and avoid slippage in 2011 despite the new and emerging challenges for contractors and workers on construction sites. The CSP has agreed five key objectives covering; Design and Procurement, Small contractors/subcontractors, Construction plant and equipment, Worker engagement and Safety Representative Facilitation and Benchmarking. The focus will reflect the industry profile in 2011 with smaller projects, small contractors/subcontractors and self employed. Activities and emerging hazards relating to Repair Maintenance and Improvement, Energy Conservation work and Unfinished Buildings are on the CSP Agenda.

The CSP Partner Organisations are again committed to sharing and carrying out the necessary work to ensure that the overall targets of continual reduction in the rate and cost of accidents will be achieved.

Peter McCabe

Chairman CSP 2011.

Minister Dara Calleary highlighted the positive work and effect of the Construction Safety Partnership in an address to the farming industry – he said;

“We can take heart from the knowledge that improvements are possible. In the 1990s we had similar concerns about safety in the construction sector. With encouragement at the time from the then Minister, Tom Kitt, the Construction Safety Partnership was set up. While nobody can be complacent, there has been a major improvement in the safety record of that sector. It is fair to say that health and safety is now considered an intrinsic and integral part of the construction industry. The fatality rate in construction has fallen from 15.0 per 100,000 workers in 1999 to 6.6 per 100,000 workers in 2009. With the commitment of all of us present here today, the Farm Safety Partnership can replicate the success of the Construction Industry.As you know the CSP will finish its current three year cycle in December 2010. Over the last decade the CSP has transformed the construction industry.” (November 2010)

Safety Representative of the Year 2010

Gary Bass, BAM Contractors won Safety Rep of the Year 2010 and was awarded a certificate as well as a cheque for €1,000.