Mr. John P. SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps is he taking to deal with the increase in accidents in construction, agriculture and forestry.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Health and Safety Commission's plan of work for 1989–90 and beyond approved in April by my right hon. Friend contains a number of extra measures designed to stimulate improvements in the health and safety performance of the construction, agricultural and associated industries. For construction these include reaching a target of 100 inspectors engaged on inspection in 1990, targeting inspections on the more hazardous activities and on the quality of site management, preparing new regulations to improve the management of health and safety on construction sites. Similarly for agriculture these include allocating additional resources to the agricultural inspectorate to be targeted primarily on high risk premises, certification of agricultural pesticide users under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986, and new guidance on obligations under these and related regulations.
Mr. John P. SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any further plans to tackle the problems of under-reporting of accidents to the Health and Safety Executive.
§ Mr. NichollsOne and a half million copies of HSE's leaflet "Report that accident" have been distributed since 1987. The recent construction blitz campaign reminded small contractors of their reporting obligations. Also, in May and June 1988 an advertising campaign was directed specifically at under-reporting in the footwear and clothing industries and the timber and wooded furniture industries.