The construction industry is growing again, and while that is good news for the economy, it may heighten the importance of man anchors and guardrails, not only to keep work on schedule, but also to protect those who are new to the workforce and may be less experienced in safety matters.
According to the Construction Products Association, activity rose in Q1 2014 for the fourth consecutive quarter – the first time a full year has seen positive growth in the past six years.
However, the significant figures for some relate to the availability of skilled workers – 50% of firms saw labour costs increase, suggesting greater demand and less supply of workers.
In particular, 28% of firms had problems recruiting carpenters, and 61% found it hard to add bricklayers to their workforce.
With greater demand than supply, it is likely that some out of work individuals might look to the construction sector as a potential employer – but those who have little or no experience of working at height could be put at considerable risk.
For this reason, any work taking place at an elevation should be protected by guardrails and man anchors, so newcomers to the trade are able to learn the basics without being put at unnecessary risk.