§ Andrew BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many inspections per band 3 inspector are made on average in the North West Division of the Health and Safety Executive each working week; and what proposals there are to increase the frequency of inspections, excluding complaint and accident investigations; [84775]
(2) what action has been taken to increase the inspection rate of principal inspectors and band 3 inspectors at the North West Division Office of the Health and Safety Executive. [84776]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownIn the 25 working weeks between 7 April 2002—the start of the Health and Safety Executive's Field Operations Directorate's working 1007W year—and 28 September 2002—half-year stage—each band 3 operational inspector in HSE's North West Division made, on average, two inspection contacts per week. In addition, on average, each band 3 operational inspector made one investigation contact, one complaint follow-up contact and one enforcement contact per week.
These figures do not include any inspection or other contacts made by HSE's Construction Division or other operating directorates in the North West.
A number of actions have been taken to increase the contact time of band 3 inspectors in HSE's Field Operations Directorate and work continues to explore further steps. These actions will allow more work involving direct contact with duty-holders to take place; this includes investigation work as well as inspections. Actions being investigated or taken include: (i) enabling administrative staff to input data relating to inspection contacts; (ii) increasing direct administrative resource to support inspectors; (iii) providing better information on the work of inspectors to allow management support
Inspection Enforcement RIDDOR investigation Complaint follow-up Others Total contacts of type 1,539 517 875 402 238 Numbers per Band 3 Inspector per week 2 1 1 1 0.5
§ Andrew BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what formal qualifications the(a) Director General and (b) Deputy Director General (Operations) of HSE have in health and safety management. [84779]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownFollowing open competition, both appointments were made by the Health and Safety Commission and approved by the relevant Secretary of State. The principal requirements are the ability to direct and manage a large and complex organisation. Neither have specific health and safety management qualifications. However, they have access to advice on the management of health and safety issues from HSE's staff who collectively have comprehensive and authoritative expertise. I am advised that both are fully acquainted with health and safety legislation, to perform their official functions in HSE as well as management organization.
§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and pensions how many companies were(a) investigated by the Health and Safety Executive and (b) convicted of health and safety offences in 2001–02 in (i) the North East and (ii) the UK; and what the average fine was for companies convicted of health and safety offences in each year from 1997–2002 in (A) the North East and (B) the UK. [86489]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownThe number of companies(a) investigated by the Health and Safety Executive and (b) convicted of health and safety offences in 2001–02 in (i) the North East and (ii) Great Britain is as follows.
1008Wto be given to those who need it most and (iv) promulgating best practice by those inspectors who achieve the highest proportion of their time inspecting.
Principal Inspectors (band 2) are a management grade and are not set targets for inspection work. They carry out operational work according to need and for a number of reasons, including to remain familiar with work conditions and practices, to monitor the standards of their staff and to train new staff.
HSE does not measure, nor have a target for, the frequency of inspections to particular workplaces except for those where risks are highest. HSE targets most inspections according to hazard and risk. The Field Operations Directorate is currently investigating ways of increasing the proportion of time inspectors spend in contact with duty holders.
The role of an operational band 3 inspector is not limited to inspections: around 50 per cent. of their available time is spent dealing with reactive work, ie: incident and complaint investigation. In the first 25 weeks of 2002–03 operational band 3 inspectors in the North West Division made a total of 3,571 regulatory contacts, broken down as in the table:
Companies investigated Companies convicted Year North East Great Britain North East Great Britain 2001–021,2 635 6,994 48 691 1 From 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 2 Provisional The second and third columns of the table give figures for investigations of reports made under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. In some of these companies more than one incident may have been investigated.
The average fine imposed on companies convicted of health and safety offences in each year from 1997–98 to 2001–02 in (A) the North East and (B) Great Britain is as follows:
£ Average Fine Year North East Great Britain 2001–021 3,464 11,722 2000–01 7,208 8,073 1999–2000 4,358 9,034 1998–99 3,908 4,303 1997–98 3,900 6,222 1 Provisional