Month in numbers

50
The percentage of students who complete their modern apprenticeships in construction. Training provision in the industry has come under fire from the Adult Learning Inspectorate, a government agency set up 18 months ago to scrutinise post-16 education. It reports that after one year, half way through the programme, 87% were still on the scheme, yet this dropped to 50% by the end of the course. Also, more than half of the training provision in construction was considered inadequate by the inspectorate. Of the 40 construction colleges and companies put under the microscope, more than 50% were unsatisfactory or very weak.

One construction company was singled out for praise. Mechanical and electrical engineer NG Bailey was classified as outstanding and named as one of the top 24 training providers nationwide. Achievement and retention rates were high among its apprentices.

60
The percentage of fatal accidents attributable to choices made before construction begins, according to the Health and Safety Executive. The HSE has heavily criticised clients and architects in its consultation document "Revitalising Construction Health and Safety" published this month. Architects come under fire for not considering the safety implications of their designs, and clients for washing their hands of safety concerns for those working on their sites. The document also proposes changes to the role of planning supervisor and for local authorities to be given some responsibility for safety, at planning permission stage.

Despite a 25% drop in site fatalities in the year up to March 2002, the HSE is cracking down hard on construction. It has added 4,000 inspectors to its construction team and is carrying out a series of safety blitzes on sites throughout the country focused on working at heights and welfare.

100
The amount, in pounds, that contractors can now charge late payers for time spent chasing bills. The move, introduced by the Department for Trade and Industry, is an attempt to crack down on firms trying to wriggle out of payment.

An estimated £7bn is owed in late bills at any one time and 10,000 UK firms go under each year because they are owed money by their clients.

Other measures introduced by the DTI include a fixed interest rate over a six month period for late payment, as opposed to monthly fluctuations as at present and the extension of late payment legislation to all firms and the public sector, not just small businesses. Small firms will also be able to call on a representative body to challenge contracts that do not provide them with a substantial remedy for late payment.

1201
The number of injuries, per 100,000 workers, reported on Major Contractor Group sites in 2001/2. This is an 11% rise on the same period last year. The statistics are a major setback for the MCG, whose safety charter aims to reduce accident rates by 10% year on year. Incidence rates for fatal and major injuries also rose 7% and accidents requiring three days or more off work rose 2%. It isn't all bad news for the big guns, however. Fatalities on their sites fell from 10 to eight.

2002
The year the Institute of Civil Engineers (above) issued its first contract without retentions, published this month. It is the first ICE contract in 57 years not to feature the practice of withholding money to pay for defects, since its original contract in 1945. The ICE claims it is responding to calls from clients to write a contract that is workable with long-term frameworks, and is not bowing to pressure from the industry.

Fit-out contractor Overbury is planning to follow the lead of major clients such as John Lewis Partnership, BAA, Tesco and Slough Estates in abolishing the practice.

The trade and industry select committee is looking into abolishing retentions in public sector contracts. Anyone wishing to comment on the issue has until 27 September to submit evidence.

2004
The year by which landfill sites for hazardous waste could be full, according to a select committee. As specialist sites fill up, it could lead to a rise in landfill tax, transportation costs and increased time to dispose of the waste if it has to be taken to more remote sites, warns the environment, food and rural affairs committee report.

The construction industry produces 20% of all the UK's hazardous waste. However, three-quarters of this is material encountered in the construction process, such as in contaminated land and not produced in it. It is therefore impossible to cut down on without soil remediation techniques. This could make the redevelopment of brownfield sites more costly and time consuming, and hit the government's drive to redevelop used sites, particularly its target of 60% of housing to be built on brownfield sites.