§ Mr. WellsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations the Health and Safety Executive has received from the European Commission in respect of the use of 110 volt equipment on construction sites; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythEarlier this year, European Commission officials responsible for ensuring free trade in electrical equipment challenged the Health and Safety Executive—HSE—to justify its consistent encouragement of the use of 110 volt as opposed to 240 volt electrical equipment on construction sites and similar outdoor worksites.
The European Commission has not asked that 110 volt electrical equipment be banned from use on United Kingdom construction sites, only that HSE should cease to encourage the use of this equipment in preference to 240 volt.
Correspondence is continuing between the Commission and United Kingdom officials who are defending our position on electrical safety in high-risk sites of this type.