22nd August 2005, 10:21 AM
Statistics are valuable. The point is that, if you have statistics, you can track whether things are getting better, getting worse or stagnating. However, I don't think that a BAJR poll (however well intentioned) can produce valid statistics.
On a related point, bear in mind that many archaeological accidents will occur on construction sites, and will therefore be included in the construction site statistics.
Under the RIDDOR rules, any significant incidents (including near misses) have to be reported by law. Assuming that archaeological organisations are complying, there should be official data available. However, not all may be readily identifiable as relating to archaeology.
From my own observation, H&S practice in archaeology was horrific in the 1970s-early 1990s, has gradually improved since the mid-90s, but is still well behind the construction industry. One of the key drivers behind the improvement has been the increasingly close connections between archaeology and construction contractors, who are shocked by archaeologists' standards of practice and often build better H&S practice into contract requirements. I have seen contractors threaten to sack units that had over 100 people on site unless they met the standard specified in the contract.
1man1desk
On a related point, bear in mind that many archaeological accidents will occur on construction sites, and will therefore be included in the construction site statistics.
Under the RIDDOR rules, any significant incidents (including near misses) have to be reported by law. Assuming that archaeological organisations are complying, there should be official data available. However, not all may be readily identifiable as relating to archaeology.
From my own observation, H&S practice in archaeology was horrific in the 1970s-early 1990s, has gradually improved since the mid-90s, but is still well behind the construction industry. One of the key drivers behind the improvement has been the increasingly close connections between archaeology and construction contractors, who are shocked by archaeologists' standards of practice and often build better H&S practice into contract requirements. I have seen contractors threaten to sack units that had over 100 people on site unless they met the standard specified in the contract.
1man1desk