§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on fatal injury rates for the construction sector.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe estimated fatal injury rate for employees for 1992–93 is the lowest on record, at 7.5 293W per 100,000. The comparable rate for self-employed workers is 3.7 per 100,000, which is significantly lower than for most of the 1980s. The combined rate for major injuries has also fallen by 20 per cent. over the last five years. I am greatly encouraged by these reductions, which have undoubtedly been helped by the efforts of committed people in the industry, the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive.
However, there is no room for complacency. Good planning and management is the key to better health and safety performance, and we must continue to seek ways of getting that message adopted right across the industry. For that reason, the HSE will continue to attach a high priority to inspection in the construction sector, through checks on the quality of site management, and through head office visits and risk-targeted campaigns. In addition HSE inspectors will not hesitate to use their considerable enforcement powers to require improvements, or take prosecutions, where necessary.