MCG annual report shows continued improvement in health and safety performance

The accident incidence rate on Major Contractors Group (MCG) sites has fallen by 45% over the past seven years.

Working from a baseline set in 1999/2000, the number of reportable injuries per 100,000 workers has fallen from 1331 to 735 for the year ending March 2007. The total for the previous 12 months (April 2005-March 2006) was 837.

These statistics are revealed in the MCG's Annual Report of progress on the commitments made in the organisation's Health and Safety Charter.

The Charter seeks to guide and energise the industry leadership in improving health and safety on all construction sites.

The annual report, covering the period from April 2006 to March 2007, not only provides information on progress against measurable targets but also details how MCG have implemented their programme of work.

Welcoming the report and the improvement in health and safety performance, Vaughan Burnand, chairman of the MCG's health and safety group, said: "There are clear indications that the action taken to improve health and safety on site continues to show positive results. However, this is just a further step on a relentless journey and we must increase our efforts wherever possible to maintain this year on year improvement. We all recognise there is no room for complacency. The challenges we face as an industry are considerable - as indeed is the effort we need to demonstrate to meet those challenges.”

The report also carries an update on progress made towards achieving a fully qualified workforce. By March 2007, 86% of all people on MCG sites carried cards from an MCG Accepted Record Scheme appropriate to their particular occupation - this overall figure includes not only MCG employees but also those of subcontractors and agency staff.

Notes for editors

1. Since 2001, MCG have been reporting on the overall Accident Incidence Rate (AIR) for all member companies.

2. This report results are collated for the year April to the following March and MCG agreed to adopt a baseline of 1999/2000. Information is shown as incidence rates per 100,000 and for both direct employees and subcontract employees, (which includes the self-employed), calculated as:

Number of Reported Incidents

Average Number of persons

x 100 000

Baseline Year

99/00

April 2006 - March 2007

a) Number of fatal accidents:

15

2

b) Incidence rate (100 000) of fatal and major injuries:

333

257

c) Incidence rate (100 000) of over three day injuries:

989

478

d) Incidence rate (100 000) of all reportable injuries

1331

735

3. During the period April 2006 to March 2007 there were 77 fatalities reported in the construction industry. Two of these occurred projects where an MCG company was working.

4. The overall MCG Accident Incidence Rate (AIR) for all reportable injuries has reduced by 45% since the baseline year.

5. The Major Contractors Group (MCG) represents the UK's largest construction companies. Its members carry out over £20 billion worth of construction work each year.

6. For further information contact Kurt Calder on 0207 227 4508. The MCG website at www.mcg.org.uk also contains some general information about the MCG's work.

7. The full Annual Report 2006-2007 is available as a pdf from the MCG website

www.mcg.org.uk

MCG, 55 Tufton Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3QL

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