TV highlights the lack of health and safety

Apr 3 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

AFTER all of the scandals the BBC and ITV have faced recently, the bigwigs at the big two probably held their breath and waited for the backlash when they heard there was another outcry at one of the nation’s favourite shows.

From dodgy phone-ins to Ross and Brand’s Manuel-gate saga, we’ve seen every moment of these scandals lived out on TV, the internet, in the papers and on the radio. But now it’s time for the construction trade press to get involved and the Beeb and ITV will be pleased to hear it is a Channel 4 show in the eye of the storm.

Grand Designs has come under fire from contractors who believe the programme regularly appears to show poor health and safety management. One told leading trade magazine Contract Journal: “The show appears to portray the people in it as people who can build, but the short cuts they take are unbelievably bad.”

Contractors believe that health and safety is the primary industry concern and this should be reflected in the programme.

In its defence, the programme’s makers, Talkback Thames, says it takes health and safety very seriously and that programme makers follow rigid procedures in that area.

While pointing out that presenter Kevin McCloud does highlight poor health and safety practice in the show, they add that “ultimate responsibility lies with the appointed site manager or representative of each specific build and that person is not a member of the TV production company”.

The contractors are right and broadcasters do have a duty to make health and safety the priority. While the producers point out that the responsibility falls upon the site managers, health and safety starts at the top of any organisation and runs right down to the tea boy.

Where the two worlds of on-site and on TV meet, the director and his editor’s control is king and ultimately where poor health and safety is shown, it is their responsibility to point this out and make it clear what is wrong.

Clearly there are many contractors who believe this is not always the case and the debate rages on.

Working with the Health and Safety Executive, Constructing Excellence is holding a health and safety day at Gateshead International Stadium on Wednesday, April 8. The two half-day events will provide information on the most important health and safety issues specific to the construction industry. Health and Safety Professionals will be available to answer questions.

For more information about the event, or about Constructing Excellence in the North East, please contact regional director, Catriona Lingwood, on (0191) 383-7435 or catriona@constructingexcellence-ne.org.uk.