Posted By johnwaterson2773 Evening all, Don't know if anyone else was listening to radio 1 news today. They were talking about H & S accidents on sites and how cases were being prosecuted but not enough. What got me riled was the comment from, I believe a construction worker " yes when it comes to saving money on the job then health & safety is the first to go", or words to that effect. It has been a long day so may not be word for word, but coming from someone in the building trade, he is not doing himself or the industry any favours. Ah well thats it, now back to Rdio Stoke and Northern Soul night.

Posted By John Murgatroyd The comment was from UCAT. The accident stats are higher, and deaths are too. Maybe that's why he was miffed. He was right as well. "13 Mar 2007 A dramatic rise in deaths in the construction industry must shame the government into reversing the policy of cuts in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), unions (UCATT, PCS, Prospect) demanded today. Latest figures reveal that 74 people have died on building sites already this year an increase of 14 per cent on last year's figures. Tragically, it is feared that the figure for construction fatalities will rise further before March 31, the end of the recording year. The increase in fatalities has occurred alongside the massive cutbacks at the Health and Safety Executive, the body responsible for inspecting workplaces. The HSE are being forced to cut 243 jobs by 2008. The job losses come on top of year on year real term financial cuts at the HSE since 2002. Further cuts are expected as the organisations parent body the Department of Work and Pensions will be forced to make cuts of 5 per cent from its spending in each of the next three years" As I said, a bit miffed.

Posted By Jay Joshi It is perhaps worth referring to a reponse from the HSE's Chief Executive:- http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2007/e07016.htm

Posted By John Murgatroyd Without some sort of enforcement, there is no health and safety. The taxation savings are not really relevant, since plenty seems to be available for staff increases in many other departments and for a few wars about the globe. In any case, since when has it been customery for government to bother much about what the people want ? Still less, bother to ask them. Still, maybe they'll change to prosecution after accident, at least the money will be available for that. Maybe the unions are right, they'll have to take over the HSE role and start prosecuting companies themselves. They seem to be getting large enough now to act in that role. I note that AMICUS/TGWU are now in talks with several US and EU unions with a view to further amalgamation. What with the insurance companies (who end up paying the bill for injuries) becoming much more rampant in their inspection of premises......

Posted By Gff re last post Exactly where is the context. These stats don't mean much with out knowing the growth of constructions sites and number of works over the same period of time

Posted By Bruce Sutherland sometimes its poor health and safety as well - we do loads of demolition - we never get asked why the building will not fall down but we do get lots of silly questions including ...... what is the banksman name?