Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Economics, government & businessLatest NewsHealth and safetyHealth & Safety ExecutiveDepartment for Work and Pensions

Health and Safety Executive cannot cope with workload

by Kat Baker 13 Jul 2009
by Kat Baker 13 Jul 2009

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not have sufficient resources to investigate its current case-load, a government investigation has reported.

The One death too many report into fatal injuries in the construction industry, commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and published last week, revealed that the HSE in London does not have the resources to cope with its workload.

Any attempts to investigate more cases of health and safety breaches by the organisation as a whole would also require further funding and investigators, it says.

The construction industry union UCATT said the lack of resources has long been a problem and had hindered moves aimed at preventing workplace injuries and fatalities.

The report, by Rita Donaghy, former chair of conciliation service ACAS, said: “There are insufficient resources in London to carry out even the existing workload; this has been a problem for some years. The HSE should take steps to improve this situation.

“It is clear that the inspector resource had been allowed to slip below an acceptable level. HSE needs to deal effectively with the long-standing problem of inadequate numbers of inspectors in London.”

A spokesman for UCATT said: “[HSE’s lack of resources] is something which we have long raised. We are very concerned about it. It has had a big detriment on construction safety.

“We are concerned about the low number of construction inspectors and the serious falls in enforcement activity, prosecutions and convictions. If the report is fully implemented then we will have a huge decrease in deaths in the industry.”

The report also recommended the Gangmasters Licensing Authority’s (GLA) jurisdiction be extended to cover the construction industry to ensure rigorous standards in working conditions were maintained.

This move has already been recommended by the Home Affairs Select Committee. The GLA currently monitors labourer providers in industries including agriculture, shellfish gathering and food packaging.

The HSE would not comment on the findings of the report. The DWP said it was considering all the recommendations in the report and would respond later in the year.

Official statistics recently showed the number of workplace deaths had dropped by 22% from the five year average, but this was attributed to reduced working hours during the recession.

Avatar
Kat Baker

previous post
HR news today: Swine flu contingency plans; £15k harassment payout; BBC presenter suspended; Jaguar looks at shut-downs
next post
Recruiters give their verdict on the prospects for HR graduates

You may also like

Something new to get stressed about: hello Premier...

5 Aug 2022

Long Covid develops in one in eight of...

5 Aug 2022

Economic outlook slows hiring despite skills shortfalls

5 Aug 2022

ESG for HR: Emma Burrows talks to Oven-Ready...

5 Aug 2022

How introverts can become brilliant leaders

5 Aug 2022

EU member states to make carer work-life balance...

5 Aug 2022

Office could be sanctuary for workers fearing winter...

4 Aug 2022

Inflation forecast to hit 13% in autumn says...

4 Aug 2022

Shell to pay workers a one-off 8% bonus

4 Aug 2022

Dyson fined £1.2m after machine fell on worker

4 Aug 2022

  • 6 reasons why work-based learning is better than traditional training PROMOTED | A recent Fortune/Deloitte survey found that 71% of CEOs are anticipating that this year’s biggest business disrupter...Read more
  • Strengthening Scotland’s public services through virtual recruiting PROMOTED | This website is Scotland's go-to place for job seekers looking to apply for roles in public services...Read more
  • What’s next for L&D? Enter Alchemist… PROMOTED | It’s time to turn off the tedious and get ready for interactive and immersive learning experiences...Read more
  • Simple mistakes are blighting the onboarding experience PROMOTED | The onboarding of new hires is a company’s best chance...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today