UCATT publishes evidence submitted to construction fatalities inquiry

Construction union UCATT have published the dossier they have submitted to the Government’s Inquiry into construction fatalities. The Inquiry chaired by Rita Donaghy is due to publish their findings by the end of April.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: “This inquiry is crucial to construction workers. For far too long too many construction workers have paid for the bosses mistakes and carelessness with their lives”.

The Inquiry was called following intensive lobbying by UCATT of the Government due to the high number of construction deaths and the failure of many employers to take workers safety seriously.

Mr Ritchie, added: “The inquiry is taking place solely because UCATT banged on doors to get heard. If we had not done so, there would be no inquiry.”

UCATT’s dossier welcomes the Inquiry’s examination into the performance of the Health and Safety Executive but makes it quite clear that if deaths are to be reduced then the final recommendations must go far further.

In particular UCATT argues that safety will not be dramatically improved until the casualised and fragmented way the construction industry operates is radically altered.

In particular UCATT highlights the problems posed by bogus self-employment affecting over 400,000 workers in the construction industry. The bogus self-employed have no employment rights, can be sacked at a moments notice and often have little training. The casualised work conditions greatly decrease site safety.

The report emphasises that the significant rise in employment agencies and gangmasters operating in construction in recent years has further reduced safety. Many workers placed on construction sites through this route are inexperienced, lack training and are often not supplied with basic safety equipment.

When the Government agreed to hold the Inquiry part of the deal was that there would be an examination of whether the law should be strengthened by “introducing statutory health and safety duties”.

UCATT’s evidence highlights the need for the introduction of statutory directors’ duties and that the voluntary approach has failed. By introducing statutory duties all companies would have to identify a director who would be responsible for health and safety. If serious safety breaches occurred there then would be the possibility of the guilty director receiving a custodial sentence.

Mr Ritchie, further added: “The Government made a commitment to re-examine the introduction of directors’ duties as part of this inquiry. That might make some people uncomfortable but UCATT will hold the inquiry to account to fulfil that commitment.”

Last year (2007/8) there were 72 construction deaths. In 2006/7 79 construction workers were killed.

To read UCATT’s full submission click here.

For further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235