Over the next 12 months representatives from the industry’s major clients, contractors and supply chain have agreed to work together to tackle the causes of illness and injury in the sector.

The initiative has been driven by the Infrastructure Client Group (ICG), which represents some of the country’s largest client organisations.

ICG members include EDF Energy, Environment Agency, Heathrow, Highways England, HS2, National Grid, Sellafield Ltd, Tideway and Transport for London.

The group have committed to initially tackle seven significant areas of risk this year:

• People & Mobile plant
• Mental health
• Striking buried services
• Lifting operations
• Heavy goods vehicles operations
• Hand-arm vibration related disease
• Public safety

By April 2020 the group will develop a set of actions for each of these seven risk areas which will aim to eliminate the illness and injury caused by these risks by 2025 – not just reduce it.

The actions will be developed to get industry-wide support and implementation. They will include standardised measures to assess current performance and to demonstrate improvement over time.

ICG members will be supported by suppliers from across the sector, with many already volunteering to support the initiative.

Other clients and suppliers are also invited to sign up through the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, which is supporting the project. Interested organisations can get involved by emailing [email protected]

Tideway Director of Health Safety and Wellbeing and Infrastructure Client Group health, safety and wellbeing working group chairman Steve Hails said: “Our research signposts the key health, safety and wellbeing risks that our sector faces.

“We are working collaboratively to make sure we crack down on these risks.

“If you want to play a part in securing game-changing improvements to the industry, I would strongly encourage you to volunteer your support for this important work”.