§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what formal means of cooperation there are between the Corporation of London, the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency to facilitate the supervision of construction sites in the City of London. [130199]
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§ Mr. MeacherThere are currently no formal standing arrangements between the Corporation of London, the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency to facilitate the supervision of construction sites in the City of London. There is, however close liaison between officers of the three organisations on an individual site basis as the need arises.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many inspections by the Health and Safety Executive in the last two years were concerned with safety on construction sites. [130216]
§ Mr. MeacherIn the two years from 1 April 1998 to 31 March 2000 there were 39,233 preventive inspection contacts made to construction sites out of a total number of construction site contacts of 64,142. Details of other site contacts are shown in the attached table. The figures shown are provisional. It is not possible to distinguish between those contacts dealing only with safety, as opposed to health and welfare issues: the vast majority of inspections will cover all three matters.
Construction site contacts between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 2000 Number Preventive inspection 39,233 Investigation—Accidents and complaints 15,724 Product safety 62 Asbestos 593 Enforcement 6,659 Advice 1,153 Education/Promotion 268 Standards 12 Sector work—National issues 23 Civil litigation 40 Local projects 367 Total 64,134
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many deaths and serious injuries have occurred on construction sites in each of the past 10 years. [130219]
§ Mr. MeacherIn the 10 years for which figures are available, the number of deaths and major injuries1 reported to all enforcing authorities are shown in the table.
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Fatal and major injuries to employees, self-employed and members of the public in the construction sector 1 April to 31 March 1989–90 to 1998–99 Year Fatal injuries Major injuries 1989–90 165 4,220 1990–91 133 3,961 1991–92 105 3,447 1992–93 100 2,844 1993–94 94 2,683 1994–95 88 2,748 1995–96 82 2,594 Introduction of RIDDOR '95 1996–97 93 4,459 1997–98 86 4,665 1998–99 68 5,034 1 As defined by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 and 1995 Note:
Data prior to 1994–95 are classified under the Standard Industrial Classification 1980 (SIC80)
Data from 1994–95 are classified under the Standard Industrial Classification 1992 (SIC92).
Injury from 1996–97 cannot be directly compared to previous years figures due to the changes introduced by Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what steps he is taking to improve the Environment Agency's supervision of waste generated on construction sites; [130224]
(2) what powers are available to him concerning the treatment and disposal of waste from construction sites. [130217]
§ Mr. MullinThe Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has a range of powers to make regulations on waste under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and some limited powers either to direct or to issue statutory guidance to the Environment Agency.
Section 33 of the 1990 Act requires that waste from construction sites must be treated and disposed of in accordance with the conditions of a waste management licence, or within the terms of a licensing exemption, and in a way which does not cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health. Section 34 of the 1990 Act imposes a duty of care on those who produce, carry, keep, treat or dispose of construction waste. Contravention of these controls is a criminal offence.
We are currently reviewing two of the licensing exemptions which allow the use of construction waste and which have been the subject of allegations of abuse. The aim of the revised controls under consideration is to enable the Environment Agency to supervise more effectively the use of construction waste at exempt sites.