Government funding for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) needs to be increased if the escalation in the number of construction deaths, which has risen from 60 to 77, is to be reversed warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in its written evidence to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee inquiry into the operation and work of the HSE.

Richard Diment, Director-General of the FMB, said: "Any action that saves a life is worth taking. It is therefore incredulous that at a time when the Government is wanting to cut the number of deaths on construction sites its funding for the HSE is resulting in a series of cuts to HSE staff which has to be made in order for the HSE to say within budget. HSE has already had to make staffing cuts in 2003-4 and a further 250-350 posts are to be lost by 2008 via natural wastage."

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Diment continued: "What is the point in the Government introducing yet more health and safety legislation such as the new Corporate Manslaughter Act when it doesn’t provide the resources to enforce what legislation it already has in place. It makes a nonsense of the whole process."

The FMB is the construction industry’s largest trade association and represents over 13,000 small and medium sized firms. The trade association also champions the rights of consumers employing builders, campaigning for the reduction of VAT on home improvement projects, promoting protection through low-cost insurance schemes such as its MasterBond warranty, and offering a free complaints and conciliation service for homeowners working with member companies, should a problem arise.

(GK)