19th August 2005, 06:31 PM
This has been an interesting if not very objective thread. Some of us as managers are actually very serious about Health and Safety matters. I make all my field officers do their own risk assessments and implement any necessary mitigation. All new sites have a h&s induction at the beginning. I realise that this may be the exception.
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence here, and many of the stories are familiar to us all from the bad old days. The 'man with two arseholes' was known to me when I worked for the now defunct SYAFRU in the early 1990s.
Some statistics would be helpful if those concerned enough to post are able to provide them. I am thinking along the lines of building industry statistics injuries/deaths per person/time spent working.
HSE reports that the construction industry employs 'just under 2 million people'. In 2002-3 there were
71 fatal injuries (ie. 0.0036% of workers)
4780 major injuries (more than three times the average for industrial sectors, but still only 0.239% of workers)
all this information from
http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_r...4531es.pdf
Are there similar figures for the archaeology profession? I suspect not, in fact. Perhaps there is scope to compile this through this forum? An argument to managers is much better made through objective facts than impassioned ranting
(however well-justified [:I]).
Can I suggest some sort of poll to provide data for 2004-5? Perhaps something along the lines of
1. In the last twelve months, how many of the following have you PERSONALLY witnessed on sites you have worked on or been associated with?
a. Fatal injuries
b. Major injuries (3 days+)
c. Minor injuries (less than three days)
2. How many archaeological projects have you been on (or associated with) in the last twelve months
a. 1-5
b. 5-15
c. 15+
Not very scientific but at least its a start. Obviously this ignores long-term problems such as backs, knees etc caused by a combination of poor management and ignorance.
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence here, and many of the stories are familiar to us all from the bad old days. The 'man with two arseholes' was known to me when I worked for the now defunct SYAFRU in the early 1990s.
Some statistics would be helpful if those concerned enough to post are able to provide them. I am thinking along the lines of building industry statistics injuries/deaths per person/time spent working.
HSE reports that the construction industry employs 'just under 2 million people'. In 2002-3 there were
71 fatal injuries (ie. 0.0036% of workers)
4780 major injuries (more than three times the average for industrial sectors, but still only 0.239% of workers)
all this information from
http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_r...4531es.pdf
Are there similar figures for the archaeology profession? I suspect not, in fact. Perhaps there is scope to compile this through this forum? An argument to managers is much better made through objective facts than impassioned ranting
(however well-justified [:I]).Can I suggest some sort of poll to provide data for 2004-5? Perhaps something along the lines of
1. In the last twelve months, how many of the following have you PERSONALLY witnessed on sites you have worked on or been associated with?
a. Fatal injuries
b. Major injuries (3 days+)
c. Minor injuries (less than three days)
2. How many archaeological projects have you been on (or associated with) in the last twelve months
a. 1-5
b. 5-15
c. 15+
Not very scientific but at least its a start. Obviously this ignores long-term problems such as backs, knees etc caused by a combination of poor management and ignorance.