HSE visits down nearly a third since 2014

Unannounced visits by Health & Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors to construction sites in Great Britain have fallen by 31% over the past eight years.

In the year to the end of March 2014, the HSE undertook 11,303 proactive (unannounced) construction inspections; in the year to March 2022 just 7,793 inspections took place. The data was uncovered by the trades union Unite, via a series of freedom of information (FoI) requests. “Construction is a dangerous industry, made more dangerous by unscrupulous employers who risk workers’ lives by ignoring safety laws. If the HSE fails to ensure safety, then deaths and injuries will increase.

“The safest sites are union organised workplaces where independent union safety reps are able to challenges safety concerns and keep their fellow workers safe. Unite is unstinting in its campaign to increase organisation and reduce deaths throughout the construction industry.”

Story originally appeared: https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/hse-visits-down-nearly-a-third-since-2014