Comment:
"Each year approximately 17 workers are killed on essential projects procured by the public sector. This human cost is too high a price to pay, both economically and ethically.
I want the public sector to be exemplary construction clients. I want them to 'buy for life' - meaning they become clients who influence the design, construction, maintenance and use of a building, and help raise health and safety standards for all workers involved in such projects.
The public sector commissions around 40% of construction work in the UK each year - hospitals, schools, libraries - at a cost to the tax payer of over £33 billion. As Minister for health and safety I want to see less injury and ill-health incidents in the construction industry during the building, maintenance and refurbishment of our community facilities. As we have heard here today, there is evidence of continuing improvement by many public sector clients in adopting good practice in construction procurement.
The timing of this event is no coincidence, public construction projects are growing in size and number. The award of the Olympic Games to London in 2012 offers an ideal opportunity for all those involved in construction to show how they can work together to improve client performance on public sector projects.
Government has much to gain from raising its game and controlling construction projects more effectively. It is only by taking ownership of health and safety performance, showing leadership in setting standards and working in partnership with the industry that we will drive out poor health and safety on schemes that we are responsible for." - Minister for health and safety.