People–plant interface training: targeting an industry fatal risk

Over 300 pedestrians died in the UK after being struck by plant or vehicles over the last decade, with the construction industry being the worst offender. On ‘smart motorway' projects such as the M4/M5 scheme near Bristol, the narrow working area – in most locations only 3·6 m wide – adds more potential for conflict between people and plant. Following a number of near-miss incidents, the M4/M5 site team developed an innovative and highly effective ‘life-sized' training programme to change individual behaviours. The programme has proved a great success, both in the UK and internationally.