New Health and Safety CPD from the RIBA

RIBA CPD are encouraging safety in design and construction through their CPD Provider's Network

The recent high profile Construction Safety Summit, called by the Health and Safety Commission and the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, has been well received by the industry. General secretary of construction union UCATT, George Brumwell, pretty much summed things up when he said:

We fully support the initiatives of the government. It is quite clear that following Egan and the summit, the government means business. There is no doubt about it, the construction industrys attitude towards the workforce has to be brought fairly and squarely into the 21st century."

There is certainly room for improving the management of health and safety risks. In the year 2000 alone - 80 people were killed on building sites (mainly through falls, objects falling from above and being hit by vehicles); there were 400 health and safety prosecutions in the construction industry; and almost half of the 4000 or so notices served by the Health and Safety Executive to prevent dangerous practices, were in construction.

Broadly, there are three essentials for more effective health and safety compliance - safe people, safe places and safe systems. Tim Gough, VP Practice RIBA and the man responsible for health and safety issues, has his own views on the subject:

The construction industry must address the issues relating to the traditional lack of overall management and awareness of risks in general. Our members are in a good position to think strategically about these issues and take a lead wherever possible in helping to change the attitude and culture that prevails in the industry.
One key to this is to try and encourage cooperation and collaboration at all levels, in a properly managed environment. If architects are to make a contribution to this thinking, then of course they need the training to be able to implement it.

Architectural students are now being taught to 'think safety and the RIBA CPD Providers Network, which exists to encourage the highest standards of professional conduct amongst architects and other construction professionals, has an increasing number of members already active in offering accredited CPD seminars on various topics relating to health and safety issues".

For those who may not be familiar with the CPD scheme, every corporate member of the RIBA is required to attain 35 hours and 100 points of CPD every year. Most commonly these sessions take the form of a Powerpoint presentation followed by an opportunity for discussion and questions. They are free and are usually held at the corporate members own premises.

Contact details of members of the RIBA Providers Network who offer assessed material relating to health and safety issues are summarised below:

Designplan Lighting
Sutton, Surrey   
David Proctor
Tel: 0208 254 2020 Fax: 020 8644 4253
sales@designplan.co.uk

Vandal resistant lighting"

Dorma Entrance Systems
Letchworth   
Mr Mike Thomas
Tel. 01462 480544
autos@dorma.com

Safety at Powered Doors for Pedestrian Use." This seminar aims to provide an understanding of the types of automatic doors available and correct application to ensure efficient, safe traffic flow.

Hambleside Danelaw
Daventry, Northants   
Robert Jeffrey
Tel. 01327 701900
Marketing@hambleside-danelaw.co.uk

Health and Safety Issues in Industrial Roof Construction and their Effects on Rooflights." The purpose of this seminar is to look at the materials available for industrial rooflights, their nature, attributes and manufacture, before addressing some of the necessary questions of Health and safety to be considered, as well as EU regulations.

Haironville TAC Metal
FormingSt Helens, Merseyside   
Tel. 01744 8181811
06703.475@compuserve.com

"Health and safety issues in industrial roof construction and their effects on rooflights"

Latchways PlcDevises,
Wiltshire   
Ms Hilary Wilkins
Tel: 01380 732700
info@latchways.com

Cable Based Fall Arrest Systems" Explains how these safety systems work, why they are needed, and how to specify for their use.

Polyflor Limited
Whitefield, Manchester    

Liz Armstrong
Tel: 0161 7671109 Fax: 0161 7671188
info@polyflor.com

Reducing Slip Risks: The Development, Use and Maintenance of Sheet Vinyl Safety Flooring". This seminar looks at health and safety and food safety issues; the European Construction Products Directive; how safety flooring has been developed; and testing, selection, specification, detailing, finishing and maintenance.

Safesite Limited
Crawley, West Sussex   
Mr Graham Willmott
Tel: 01293 529977
info@safesite.co.uk

Falls From Height Protection: Cantilever Guardrails, Anchorage Devices and Cable Systems." This seminar looks at statistical data, legislation, methods of carrying out operations, product selection and design considerations.

Sala Group (Barrow Hepburn Sala Ltd)
Portishead, Avon   
Ms Staffan Johansson
Tel: 01275 846119
101635.547@compuserve.com

Introduction to the Basic Principles of Working at Height" looks at the legislative requirements, the range of potential personal methods to combat the hazards of falling and illustrations of typical risk areas discussing different equipment types which may afford a solution.

The RIBA CPD Providers Network provides quality assessed, in-house CPD for architects
and other construction professionals. If specifiers see the RIBA logo, they can be assured of quality CPD training.

For detailed information and booking instructions on any of the above topics, contact the person listed. For information direct from the RIBA, or to submit material for assessment, contact Joni Tyler, Head of CPD, on:
tel: 020 7307 3697    fax: 020 7255 1541   email: joni.tyler@inst.riba.org

Contact The Creative Department for image or release, both available by email or on CD.