§ Mr. TruswellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the health and safety standards achieved by private contractors providing building control services. [38742]
§ Mr. RaynsfordPrivate contractors providing building control services are required to comply with the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. It places duties on employers to ensure the health and safety of their employees. It also places duties on employers and the self-employed to other persons who might be affected by their work activities. Health and safety legislation is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities.
Building control provision is governed by the Building Act 1984 and Regulations made under that Act. Private contractors are required by Regulation 10 of the Building (Approved Inspectors etc.) Regulations 1985 to take such steps as are necessary, within the limits of professional skill and care, to ensure that the Building Regulations 1991 are complied with. These Regulations are primarily concerned with protecting the health and safety of those in and around buildings.
As with local authority building control, the Department currently conducts no formal monitoring of private contractors providing building control services.