Keir safety concern

Construction union UCATT has been conducting a survey of workers at housing maintenance firm Kier because of concern over safety. The survey was timed to coincide with European Health and Safety Week.

The union has been concerned over safety standards at the company for some time, but the latest move was prompted by the death of one of its members employed by Kier, Raymond Jessop. He lost his life in December 2009 after falling from a ladder while painting the outside of a house for Kier.

The union asked 5,000 people engaged in housing maintenance at the company three questions concerning their worst safety experience at Kier, their best safety experience at Kier, and what can be done to improve health and safety in their workplace.

Steve Murphy, a member of UCATT’s Kier Convenor Forum and the union’s National Kier Safety Committee, said: “This is a vitally important initiative, UCATT are ensuring that workers at Kier are fully involved in ensuring that their workplaces are safe.” He added: “Where bad and dangerous practices are identified UCATT will swiftly ensure that workers safety is no longer put in danger.”