The NASC (National Access & Scaffolding Confederation) has launched its latest annual Safety Report. The report which is an audit of all NASC ‘Contracting’ members reported incidents and accidents during the last 12 months provides a forensic review of all activity carried out by the membership.
The NASC states that :
The report is acknowledged as a regular performance indicator on how effective NASC members are in scaffolding and submission of data is a compulsory criteria requirement for all contracting members of the confederation.
Despite tough trading conditions for the scaffolding sector, scaffolders working for NASC members increased 12% compared to the previous year, a clear signal that the demand for regulated scaffolders continues to rise.
Though the number of scaffolders has increased the number of incidents and accidents has decreased by 20% compared to the previous year, which represents a significant increase in overall safety standards for the confederation’s members.
The NASC openly shares this information to demonstrate that regulated scaffolding clearly delivers demonstrably higher standards that that of non-regulated scaffolding.
Bob Whincap, Immediate Past President of the NASC said,
“The vigour with which NASC members continually improve on scaffolding safety is a testament to our commitment to obtain only the highest standards of scaffolding expertise. Non-regulated scaffolding firms are at odds with the demands that industry now expects, if a company cannot meet the criteria of the NASC then you have to question their safety practices and ultimately the very serious risk they expose to themselves and others around them”
The report includes an annual summary against previous years, going back as far as 1975. Plus detailed reports on the causes of any injuries to operatives (site and yard), third parties and members of the public. The report goes on to provide in depth analysis on scaffolder incidents by age, skill grade, size of business and type of injury.
The 16 page NASC Safety Report is available free of charge on request from the NASC, via [email protected] or can be viewed on line at www.nasc.org.uk/safety_reports
