Ucatt angry at lack of safety inspectors

Union Ucatt has slammed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for not increasing the number of its construction inspectors.

The safety body has advertised for 50 trainee inspectors but said these are just to replace retiring staff, and how many go into construction will depend on business needs.

Ucatt general secretary Alan Ritchie said: “Even if all 50 new recruits were to become construction inspectors, it still wouldn't be enough.

“Inspections have fallen, prohibition notices have fallen and prosecutions have fallen, yet at the same time deaths have risen. We're in desperate need for more front-line inspectors.”

Construction has the highest number of fatal injuries among the UK's main industrial sectors, with around one-third of all worker deaths occurring on building sites.