DWP orders inquiry into industry deaths
- Published: 27 August 2008 10:20
- Last Updated: 02 September 2008 10:15
A major inquiry into deaths in the construction industry has been ordered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
The DWP has not said why secretary of state James Purnell has demanded the inquiry or how far back it will go. But it is known that the Health and Safety Executive has been asked to look into fatalities in the industry and will appoint third parties to help do the work.
In a report to the HSE's board of directors, chief executive Geoffrey Podger said: "The secretary of state attended a meeting on vulnerable workers at 10 Downing Street. At this meeting, the SoS undertook to commission from HSE an investigation into recent deaths in the construction industry."
He added: "Within the construction division, scrutiny of fatal accidents is already carried out to inform the plan of work. HSE proposes to deliver this commission by, among other things, engaging independent external researchers to examine the underlying causes of fatal accidents in construction, including vulnerability, and identify levers for change both within and beyond the health and safety system.
"HSE sees the new commission as an opportunity to gather valuable intelligence that can help shape future strategy."
By and large, the annual tally of fatalities in the industry has remained in the seventies in recent years. So far this year sites run by Costain, Bovis Lend Lease and Morgan Est have suffered fatal accidents.
Construction union Ucatt welcomed the inquiry and said it had been promised a significant role in the investigation.
General secretary Alan Ritchie said: "The inquiry into construction deaths is a direct result of sustained campaigning by Ucatt of both the Government and the HSE. Without this the inquiry would not be happening.
"Ucatt has been guaranteed a substantial input into how the inquiry will take place and who will chair it."
While Mr Podger said the inquiry would be phased "in order to deliver early information", the HSE said it was too early to comment any further on the investigation.
Chief construction inspector Stephen Williams said measures were already being taken to tackle problem areas, including vulnerable workers.
He told Construction News the HSE was preparing a new project which would provide an analysis of accidents involving vulnerable workers.
This will include funding a pilot exercise to place two outreach workers - who look into the general safety and wellbeing of workers - in east London.
Mr Williams said: "One of our themes this year is to look at vulnerable workers. We want to try to pilot fund some outreach workers to go out into the community."
He said their role would be to interact with construction workers in the area during their leisure time, rather than formally speaking with them on sites.
Earlier this month the Government also announced it would set up a dedicated body - to be known as the Fair Employment Enforcement Board - to crack down on the abuse of vulnerable workers in UK workplaces, including in construction.
Fatalities
PERIOD DEATHS
2007/08 72
2006/07 79
2005/06 60
2004/05 69
2003/04 71
2002/03 70
2001/02 80
Source: HSE
