HC Deb 22 December 1988 vol 144 cc460-1W
Mr. Dunnachie

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he intends to take to reduce the numbers of people seriously injured and maimed every year in Great Britain as a result of construction accidents.

Mr. Haynes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to ensure adequate training and supervision and reasonable precautions in the construction industry to prevent falls.

Mr. Cope

New regulations are being prepared which provide for the management and co-ordination of health and safety on multi-contractor sites, increase the number of safety supervisors in smaller companies and amend the site notification procedure to identify sites where there are high-risk activities. The introduction of regulations which would make the wearing of safety helmets compulsory on contruction sites is also planned.

In addition to concentrating on the inspection of the more hazardous activities in the construction industry, HSE inspectors will also be paying attention to the quality of site management and its ability to manage health and safety. They will pursue their inquiries and any enforcement action to the highest levels in companies which do not measure up to the standards expected of them.

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