20th August 2005, 05:00 PM
Whilst I accept that there are those out there who pursue HS requirements with vigour, my focus in offering this thread was simply to open debate. That debate, with offerings from a variety of subscribers has illustrated a fairly dire HS environment across a range of theatres. Simply, in terms of experience of working around the country, field staff describe working environments and indeed working ethos to be at complete odds with even the tightest and prettiest risk assessment.We are simply saying that it`s not working on the ground. It also has to be said that I`m not too overwhelmed by statistics. 0.0036% of the construction site workforce lost their lives in the period 2002-3 (post-med potterer). However you manipulate this data and choose to present it, at least one individual in the construction industry dies every month. Not everyone listed as being a construction worker, actually sees a site that often.The two million people "employed in the construction industry" are not all site workers. The statistics then would be even less favourable.When one reduces the assessment of a Human life by simply reducing a workforce to statistics, yes, 0.0036% sounds as though not even one whole person died at all! The reality is-seventy one people lost their lives and 4,780 people suffered major injuries. You also offer the idea of a BAJR poll.Narrow banded frequencies like fatal/major/minor will simply allow for yet more statistics waving. What about near-misses? What about sites with NO risk assessments? What about risk assessments that bear no reality to the work environment? I would argue for rather more than a simplistic poll that we all know will undoubtedly provide the statistics required to embellish the illusion that all is well in HS in archaeology. When you look at the statistics (for what their worth) offered by PMP, even the construction industry with its vast logistical ability-cannot prevent 71 deaths and nearly 5,000 major injuries yearly. The ugly truth is that in terms of HS and staff facilities/welfare, the construction industry makes us look like relics of a long,forgotten work-ethic. And they still lose people.Lets discuss HS in archaeology seriously-not reduce an important issue to bite-sized propoganda......