The British Safety Council is supporting an effort by BOHS, a professional society representing qualified occupational hygienists in the UK, in partnership with Constructing Better Health, Land Securities and Mace to prevent occupational lung disease in the construction industry.
“The British Safety Council is pleased to lend its support to the Breathe Freely campaign – a campaign aimed at preventing lung disease among workers in the construction industry,” said Neal Stone, acting chief executive of the British Safety Council. “The evidence shows us that there are still significant numbers of construction workers at risk from occupational exposures. The improvements made in construction over the last twenty years in reducing fatal and major injuries need to be mirrored in our work to prevent exposure to occupational disease.”
He said the British Safety Council will work with BOHS and other stakeholders to help raise awareness of the risks in the sector as well as the information and support available to businesses and managers.
Mike Slater, president of BOHS, added: “The aim of this initiative is to raise standards across the construction industry in terms of worker health protection, focusing specifically on ensuring workers are being protected from the hazards which cause lung disease. This is a collaborative initiative and with the support of organizations like the British Safety Council, we believe we can really make a difference.”