UK
Ireland
Scotland
London
Construction News
09/04/2013
Union Angry At Scrapping Of Head Protection Regulations
Construction union UCATT has reacted with extreme dismay and anger as a result of broken promises following the scrapping of the head protection regulations.
The head protection regulations were scrapped from last Saturday as a result of the Lofstedt Review which recommended their deletion. UCATT strongly argued against scrapping the regulations citing that since they were adopted the average number of construction workers dying as a result of a head injury has fallen from 48 a year to 14 a year. The number of non-fatal major head injuries had fallen from 165 a year to 135 a year.
Despite UCATT's arguments the Health and Safety Executive Board decided to press ahead with scrapping the regulations, as they accepted the argument that the much less prescriptive Personal Protective Equipment Regulations were all that was necessary.
UCATT's argued that construction was a non-compliant industry and that extra measures were needed to ensure that the scrapping of the regulations would not result in construction workers being placed in danger.
Professor Lofstedt seemed to accept this and in his update to his original report, he said about concern that head protection may no longer be worn: "HSE is planning to mitigate any such risk by targeting publicity at smaller companies that head protection must still be provided and worn."
On investigation UCATT has discovered that the HSE is not doing what Professor Lofstedt stated. Instead they have said: "HSE is seeking support from industry to deliver the message about the continuing need to provide hard hats on construction sites and ensure they are worn. CONIAC (the construction industry advisory group) are asked to consider what help they can provide in publicising the messages about the continuing need to provide head protection and ensure it is worn on construction sites."
Steve Murphy General Secretary of UCATT, said: "Construction workers are being placed in danger by the scrapping of these regulations. Many construction companies will use the scrapping of the regulations as an excuse not to provide life-saving protective equipment."
(CD)
The head protection regulations were scrapped from last Saturday as a result of the Lofstedt Review which recommended their deletion. UCATT strongly argued against scrapping the regulations citing that since they were adopted the average number of construction workers dying as a result of a head injury has fallen from 48 a year to 14 a year. The number of non-fatal major head injuries had fallen from 165 a year to 135 a year.
Despite UCATT's arguments the Health and Safety Executive Board decided to press ahead with scrapping the regulations, as they accepted the argument that the much less prescriptive Personal Protective Equipment Regulations were all that was necessary.
-- Advertisement --
UCATT's argued that construction was a non-compliant industry and that extra measures were needed to ensure that the scrapping of the regulations would not result in construction workers being placed in danger.
Professor Lofstedt seemed to accept this and in his update to his original report, he said about concern that head protection may no longer be worn: "HSE is planning to mitigate any such risk by targeting publicity at smaller companies that head protection must still be provided and worn."
On investigation UCATT has discovered that the HSE is not doing what Professor Lofstedt stated. Instead they have said: "HSE is seeking support from industry to deliver the message about the continuing need to provide hard hats on construction sites and ensure they are worn. CONIAC (the construction industry advisory group) are asked to consider what help they can provide in publicising the messages about the continuing need to provide head protection and ensure it is worn on construction sites."
Steve Murphy General Secretary of UCATT, said: "Construction workers are being placed in danger by the scrapping of these regulations. Many construction companies will use the scrapping of the regulations as an excuse not to provide life-saving protective equipment."
(CD)
Latest Construction News
17/01/2025
Leeds Trinity University has officially opened its newly refurbished City Campus at 1 Trevelyan Square in Leeds.
Completed by GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out, the transformation of the central Leeds site introduces state-of-the-art facilities designed to improve learning and collaborate with industry partn
17/01/2025
Trammell Crow Company (TCC) has secured planning permission for a Grade A logistics scheme in Heywood, Greater Manchester, following a successful planning appeal.
The development will feature two state-of-the-art industrial and logistics buildings. One building will house two units measuring 4,796
17/01/2025
Poole-based developer AJC Group has celebrated a record-breaking 2024, delivering 100 affordable homes, a significant increase from the 72 units completed in the previous year.
Since 2023, AJC Group has completed and handed over 172 affordable homes across five sites.
In 2024 alone, the developer
17/01/2025
Plans for one of the most ambitious parks projects in London have taken a significant step forward, with Haringey Council securing nearly two additional acres of land around The Paddock nature reserve in Tottenham Hale.
The agreement with Thames Water marks a major milestone in the transformation o
17/01/2025
Islington Council has unveiled two draft guidance documents aimed at helping residents, businesses, and developers combat climate change by making buildings more energy efficient and fostering a greener, healthier borough.
The consultation seeks feedback on the draft Climate Action Supplementary Pl
17/01/2025
The City of Wolverhampton Council has unveiled a £98 million investment plan over the next five years to develop around 500 new homes across the city.
The proposal, part of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan, received Cabinet approval this week and now moves to Full Council for final
17/01/2025
Croydon Council has announced a significant milestone in the redevelopment of the Purley Pool site, with revised proposals submitted for a new leisure centre, later living housing, and the regeneration of the surrounding area.
A planning application for the site was initially submitted in 2024, pro
17/01/2025
The City of Wolverhampton Council has announced that demolition work has commenced on the New Park Village estate, marking the start of a major £40 million redevelopment project to transform outdated council housing.
Contractor DSM Demolition has begun pulling down poor-quality bungalows on Valley
17/01/2025
Hillingdon Council has acquired 12 new homes at Carpenters Court in Uxbridge.
Leader of Hillingdon Council, Cllr Ian Edwards and Cllr Steve Tuckwell, Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Growth, visited the site to officially mark the handover of the properties from local developer Kearns Devel
17/01/2025
Organisers of UK Construction Week (UKCW) have announced another major coup for the show's 10th anniversary year, with the news that UKCW London will be co-locating with the 14th edition of The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces, the principal industry event for surface design.
Established 26 years ago, th
