HC Deb 17 January 1989 vol 145 cc166-9W
15. Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to reduce fatalities in the construction industry in the London area.

Mr. Nicholls

In my answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Doran) earlier today, I set out the action being taken to improve safety in the construction industry on a national basis. As regards London, the action being taken is the same.

47. Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he intends to take to reduce deaths and crippling injuries in the construction industry.

66. Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to reduce fatalities in the construction industry caused by the use of crane excavators and dumpers.

Mr. Nicholls

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 constructions sites is also planned.

In addition to concentrating on the inspection of the more hazardous activities in the industry. Health and Safety Executive inspectors will also be paying more attention to the quality of site management and its ability to manage health and safety. They will be looking at the level of training and supervision that has been provided and the precautions that have been taken to prevent accidents. 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.

55. Mr. Robert Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he intends to take to ensure that health and safety law is enforced more stringently on those who have charge of others on construction sites.

Mr. Nicholls

I am confident that the law is already being enforced stringently. However, new regulations are being prepared which provide for the management and co-ordination of health and safety on multi-contractor sites and increase the number of safety supervisors in smaller companies.

The Health and Safety Commission has also recently published two booklets aimed at improving safety management in the construction industry and in future the Health and Safety Executive inspectors will be paying special attention to the quality of site management and its ability to manage health and safety.

Inspectors will also be looking at the level of training and supervision that has been provided and the precautions that have been taken to prevent accidents. 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.

62. Mr. Graham

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he intends to take to protect those members of the public who stray on to construction sites.

Mr. Nicholls

At visits to construction sites, inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive will continue to remind employers and contractors of their obligation under section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to ensure that the health and safety of persons not in their employment, including members of the public, is not affected by the way in which they carry out their operations. Enforcement action will be taken in appropriate cases where this duty is not met.

The Health and Safety Executive is currently revising its published guidance to the industry on the safety of children at construction sites and will continue to use the media to remind contractors, children, parents, teachers and members of the public before major school holidays of the dangers of construction sites.

91. Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to reduce fatalities in the construction industry due to poor maintenance of plant and equipment.

Mr. Nicholls

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.

In addition to concentrating on the inspection of the more hazardous activities in the industry, Health and Safety Executive inspectors will also be paying more attention to the quality of site management and its ability to manage health and safety.

They will be looking at the level of training and supervision that has been provided and the precautions that have been taken to prevent accidents such as those arising from poor maintenance of plant and equipment. They will continue to draw attention to Health and Safety Executive published guidance on the maintenance of plant and equipment.

Inspectors 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.

96. Mr. McKelvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to reduce fatalities in the construction industry due to electrical hazards.

Mr. Nicholls

New electricity at work regulations have recently been proposed to the Secretary of State by the Health and Safety Commission and are currently being considered. They are directed at the prevention of injury due to electrical hazards at all places of work including construction sites.

Other 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.

In addition to concentrating on the inspection of the more hazardous activities in the industry, health and safety executive inspectors will also be paying more attention to the quality of site management and its ability to manage heath and safety.

They will be looking at the precautions that have been taken to prevent accidents, such as those arising from electrical hazards, and will continue to draw attention to HSE published guidance. A new guidance note "Avoiding Danger from Underground Services" will be published in the near future.

Inspectors 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.

102. Mr. Skinner

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action he intends to take to reduce the number of deaths from construction accidents.

Mr. Nicholls

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 construction sites is also planned.

In addition to concentrating on the inspection of the more hazardous activities in the industry, HSE inspectors will also be paying more attention to the quality of site management and its ability to manage health and safety. They will be looking at the level of training and supervision that has been provided and the precautions that have been taken to prevent accidents.

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.

105. Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to reduce fatalities in the construction industry caused by fires and explosions.

Mr. Nicholls

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.

In addition to concentrating on the inspection of the more hazardous activities in the industry, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors will also be paying more attention to the quality of site management and its ability to manage health and safety.

They will be looking at the precautions that have been taken to prevent accidents such as those arising from fires and explosions and will continue to draw attention to HSE published guidance on fire and explosion risks. A new guidance note "Avoiding Danger from Underground Services" will be published in the near future.

Inspectors 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.

109. Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he intends to take to reduce fatalities in the construction industry caused by falling materials or objects.

Mr. Nicholls

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 construction sites is also planned.

In addition to concentrating on the inspection of the more hazardous activities in the industry, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors will also be paying more attention to the quality of site management and its ability to manage health and safety.

Inspectors will be looking at the level of training and supervision that has been provided and the precautions that have been taken to prevent accidents such as those caused by falling materials and objects and will continue to draw attention to HSE published guidance on this subject. 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.