Building charter

The first services sector conference of the T&G general union last month heard that deaths on building sites are increasing and that the private sector is the main culprit.

Bob Blackman, T&G national secretary for construction, said the number of deaths in the six months from April 2000 were 63% higher than for the same period in 1999.

The conference endorsed an eight-point action charter for safety calling, among other things, for:

* minimum standards and mandatory health and safety training for everyone on a building site;

* roving safety reps for the industry;

* higher fines and penalties for health and safety breaches; and

* high standard welfare facilities.