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MORE BY THIS AUTHOR: Economy of scale | Petrol and parking | The carrot and the stick
It’s the last week of May and a short journey, from my car to my desk, has reminded me of the inevitable change in the seasons.
A recent site visit to a destructive testing facility was conducted on a warm morning, involved a major fire test, and was no where near as hot as that short walk.
I can, with modest reliability, expect chilled air to circulate around my desk and relieve the discomfort. Those working outside do not get the same relief. As we build up to the warmer months the construction industry will go through its annual reminders about water intake, salt tablets and midday work bans.
There will be circular debates about the pros and cons of a prolonged break. The usual arguments are about whether to stay on site, or bus back to camp; the time lost or gained; and whether or not the measures taken by individual companies are worthwhile or effective.
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Each year the various ministries of labour promise to take a harder line on those that don’t follow the rules. Municipalities conduct random site inspections and 800 numbers are set up so worried observers can phone in their concerns. There will probably be some high-profile exceptions granted, which will enliven the voice of public outrage.
At the end of the summer period, statistics will be released showing how there were more prosecutions, warnings, fines and bans than ever before. These figures will be held up as a sign of success, but they are not.
This seasonal sequence of events will run its course, but greater levels of enforcement are not the aim. Greater levels of common sense would be far better, but remain unlikely.
It begs a question about why there are some companies incapable of, or unwilling to, develop effective summer working policies? And how can the industry act collectively to sort the issue out?
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