§ Mr. Bevinsasked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the increased accident rate in the building industry, he is satisfied with the operations of the Building (Safety, Health and Welfare) Regulations, 1949.
§ Mr. RobensYes. But, as pointed out in the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1949, an indirect effect of the new Building Regulations, which came into force in October, 1948, appears to have been more widespread compliance with the statutory obligations to notify non-fatal accidents, and the larger figure for notified accidents does not therefore mean that more accidents occurred. Fatal accidents were as much as 11 per cent. fewer in 1949 than in 1948.
§ Mr. Bevinsasked the Minister of Labour how many prosecutions were made against employers by the factory inspectorate in 1949 for contraventions of safety requirements; and in what percentage of such cases prosecutions followed upon the death or injury of employees.
§ Mr. RobensThere were 716 charges against employers for contraventions of safety requirements. 379 or about 53 per cent. of the charges were in respect of death or injury.