Improved training can help cut costs

Construction firms must raise standards in employee training if they want a long-term solution to rising insurance costs, warns contractor Natta Building.
The company believes that insurance premiums will continue to escalate for companies slow to address health and safety issues.
Natta's Construction Industry Safety Training Centre, launched last summer, has reported an increasing demand for its
courses with bookings confirmed up to July 2004.
Commercial manager David Hughes said one reason for the rise in demand is because of the escalating costs of employers liability insurance (ELI).
"Major companies in the industry such as Kier and Berkeley Homes are taking the lead in planning ahead for changes in legislation affecting health and safety at work," Hughes said.
With safety appearing to be the key for reducing ELI for the construction industry, the National Britannia Group, in conjunction with insurance broker Layton Blackham, has put together a scheme in response to the insurance crisis.
The scheme offers members of National Britannia's SAFEcontractor accreditation scheme, launched in February, discounts of up to 40%.
Under the system, businesses undergo a vetting process, which examines health and safety procedures and their record for safe practice.
Companies that meet the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users on www.safecontractor.com.
The SAFEcontractor scheme has more than 6,500 contractor members registered since its launch two years ago, with an extra 2,000 firms expected to join this year.
More than 80 national firms have signed up to use the scheme when selecting contractors for services such as building, cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment or M&E work.