HC Deb 28 February 1962 vol 654 cc1309-11
3. Mr. Elwyn Jones

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of fatal and other reportable accidents during building operations and on civil engineering sites, respectively, from 1st January to 30th September in 1960 and 1961; and the number of safety officers now engaged solely in accident prevention at building operations and civil engineering sites, respectively, a group safety officer to count as one.

Mr. Hare

As the answer to the first part of the Question contains a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

Mr. Elwyn Jones

Does this not again show a thoroughly unsatisfactory state of affairs? The mounting toll of accidents is very serious in the building industry. The latest return shows a record number of accidents. Recent trends are in the same direction. As it is almost unanimously agreed that full-time safety officers are a vital part of safety prevention, is it not important that the Ministry should have some picture of the extent to which they are being used? Further, is the Minister satisfied that the present arrangements in the building industry are adequate to ensure the proper enforcement of the building regulations?

Mr. Hare

I have to give the same answer to the hon. and learned Gentleman. My own view is that it would take up too much of the valuable time of the Factory Inspectorate to procure the information, and I do not think that it would be of much use unless it were also accompanied by information as to the effectiveness of the safety arrangements in each case. I want to get on with the job of preventing accidents, and that is why I am leading this campaign to persuade all industries to strengthen their safety measures.

Mr. Prentice

Can the Minister give the House some indication of the comparison between the figures for 1961 and 1960? Is he aware that many of us are anxious to know whether this very serious trend continued in 1961, and, if it did, would not that lend strength to the argument that there is a need for much greater enforcement of regulations in the industry?

Mr. Hare

I am well aware of the need for greater effort and, as the hon. Gentleman knows, I have increased the strength of the Inspectorate. I am conducting a full-scale drive to try to persuade both sides of industry to take the matter far

NUMBERS OF ACCIDENTS REPORTED FROM SITES OF BUILDING OPERATIONS AND WORK OF ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION IN THE PERIODS 1ST JANUARY, 1960, TO 30tH SEPTEMBER, I960, AND 1ST JANUARY, 1961, TO 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1961
1st January to 30th September, 1960 1st January to 30th September, 1961
— Fatal (included in Col. 3) Total Fatal (included in Col. 5) Total
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
Building Operations … 166 12,391 127 13,706
Work of Engineering Construction ('Old' Definition)* … 33 2,090 47 2,227
TOTAL … 199 15,481 174 15,933
Work of Engineering Construction (Additional Classes only)* … 12 437 28 1,151
GRAND TOTAL … 211 15,918 202 17,084
*NOTE: From 15th May, 1960, certain additional classes of construction work were brought within scope of the Factories Acts by the Engineering Construction (Extension of Definition) Regulations, 1960. Figures for these classes of work are given separately.