Safety fears at Olympic Village A construction union has warned that extra vigilance is needed at the Olympics 2012 site
Safety fears at Olympic Village
A construction union has warned that extra vigilance is needed at the Olympics 2012 site, after discovering workers building the Olympic Village which will house competitors are more than twice as likely to suffer a serious injury as those on the main Olympics 2012 park. UCATT says the rush to complete the facilities on time must not lead to excessive hours and corner-cutting. The main construction phase of the Olympic facilities is due to conclude this summer. The union says 'in recent weeks there has been growing reports of workers working excessive hours on the Olympics, especially on the Olympic Village.' It adds that despite the Olympic Village 'being a much simpler construction project' it has an Accident Frequency Rate (AFR) of '0.24 for every million man hours worked, compared to an AFR of 0.11 on the Olympic Park.' Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: 'It is essential that everyone involved in the Olympics makes every effort to ensure that accidents do not increase during the final months of this project. While accident rates are currently not high, it is all too common for these rates to increase dramatically in a rush to finish a project. That must not be allowed to occur on the Olympics.' He added that a binding agreement between the Olympic Delivery Authority and construction unions guarantees direct employment and adherence to strict standards on the main Olympic park project. But the union said: 'Despite the Olympic Village also now being a publicly funded project the same rules do not apply to it, creating a more casualised environment, which impacts on safety levels.' Alan Ritchie added: 'The Olympics demonstrates categorically that there is a clear link between casual working practices and accidents in the construction industry. It is essential that measures are taken to improve safety and working conditions on the Olympic Village.' The Olympic Development Authority launched a new site safety campaign on 1 February.
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