§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the current chief inspector of factories last conducted a basic inspection visit alone.
§ Mr. NichollsThe chief inspector of factories does not, as a matter of policy, undertake preventive inspections alone. This is the primary work of regional staff.
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§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many basic inspection visits are paid in a year by area directors of the Health and Safety Executive; and if he has any plans to increase the figure.
§ Mr. NichollsAs a matter of policy area directors do not normally carry out preventive inspections alone but may, on occasions, accompany other inspectors on inspection visits.
§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many basic inspection visits per average working week are made by area office-based deputy superintending inspectors of factories alone; and what steps he intends to take to increase their inspection rate in 1990–91 over past years.
§ Mr. NichollsDeputy superintending inspectors of factories are in general employed not in an inspection role but in connection with standards formation and headquarters and management work. In total last year inspectors of this grade carried out 162 unaccompanied visits generally in connection with their other duties. There are no plans to increase this aspect of their work.
§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment when the director-general of the Health and Safety Executive last visited a factory.
§ Mr. NichollsMr. Rimington's latest official visits to various categories of industrial installation regulated under the Health and Safety at Work, &c. Act are as follows:
Installation Date a factory October 1987 an oil rig August 1982 an approved laboratory January 1990 a nuclear power station June 1986 a nuclear chemical installation August 1985 a construction site November 1988 a coal mine June 1986
§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many basic inspection visits per average working week are made by area office-based principal inspectors of factories alone; and what steps he intends to take to increase their inspection rate in 1990–91 over past years.
§ Mr. NichollsA high proportion of inspection visits concerned with the more complex issues and demanding situations is made by principal inspectors acting either alone or in some cases accompanied. These visits are not differentiated in the records and to obtain the information requested would involve disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Andrew F. BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory visits in an average working week made in 1989–90 by the doctors and nurses employed in the field force of the employment medical advisory service (medical division) of the Health and Safety Executive.
§ Mr. NichollsThe information is not available in the form requested. Between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 medical staff in the employment medical advisory service based in the Health and Safety Executive's area offices made a total of 7,002 visits.