CIOB Gets Animated over Health and Safety

Monday, 26 September 2011 11:33 AM

The Chartered Institute of Building is set to launch a suite of animated health and safety training videos that work across any language and throughout a range of levels in the industry.

Previous research has shown health and safety training that relies upon theoretical information is largely ineffective. These animated packages will visually highlight how accidents occur and what can be done to prevent them from happening.

“Making sure that construction workers across the world are working in the safest environments possible and to the highest standards is a priority for the industry,” said Saleem Akram the CIOB’s Director for Construction Innovation and Development.

He added, “There isn’t a single solution for health and safety best practice. We have to keep finding new ways to get the messages across and using animation lends itself well to certain types of information, especially across a multitude of languages and disciplines.

“Between 2010/11 there were 50 fatal injuries in UK construction and that’s 50 too many. In many other European countries the figures are worryingly even higher. Much of this tragic loss of human life can be prevented by effectively communicating how accidents occur and how they can be avoided.”

Besides the obvious human tragedy construction accidents also affect the productivity and reputation of the industry. Those companies with a poor health and safety record lose their competitive power for bidding due to the increment of insurance premiums. Firms who have a high rate of industrial accident reports cannot compete for large European projects.

The project, which is funded by the European Union’s Leornado Da Vinci programme, involves 7 partners from 4 different countries. Working alongside the CIOB is the University of Anadolu in Turkey, the University of Minho in Portugal, Warsaw University of Technology, the Polish Association of Building Managers, TAV Airports Holding in Turkey and the Turkish Contractors Association.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) represents for the public benefit the most diverse set of professionals in the construction industry.

Our Mission

To contribute to the creation of a modern, progressive, and responsible construction industry; able to meet the economic, environmental and social challenges faced in the 21st century.

Our 7 Guiding Principles

· Creating extraordinary people through professional learning and continuous personal development.

· Promoting the built environment as central to the quality of life for everyone everywhere.

· Achieving a sustainable future, worldwide.

· Advocating exemplary ethical practice and behaviour, integrity and transparency.

· Pursuing excellence in management practice, and technological innovation rooted in evidence based science.

· Being socially responsible and working responsibly.

· Enabling our members to find an emotional resonance with the Institute; their success is our success.

We have over 47,000 members around the world and are considered to be the international voice of the building professional, representing an unequalled body of knowledge concerning the management of the total building process.

Chartered Member status is recognised internationally as the mark of a true, skilled professional in the construction industry and CIOB members have a common commitment to achieving and maintaining the highest possible standards within the built environment.

Further information is available by contacting Saul Townsend CIOB Press and Communications Manager on t: 01344 630 766 or e: stownsend@ciob.org.uk.

*To unsubscribe from the CIOB’s press distribution service please reply to this email with the word ‘REMOVE’ in the subject field. Or contact the press office directly on t: +44 (0) 1344 630 766.

Saul Townsend MCIPR

Press and Communications Manager

The Chartered Institute of Building

t: +44 (0) 1344 630 766 f: +44 (0) 1344 630 770

e: stownsend@ciob.org.uk Twitter: CIOBsaul

w: www.ciob.org www.artofbuilding.org

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