A senior figure in the construction industry has revealed the true thinking of many employers about health and safety in the industry.

In an interview in last week's Construction News, Bob Whincap President of the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), said: "There is a health and safety Gestapo out there and if there is the minutest risk of something happening it will be eliminated and the problem is you can't build."

Despite Mr Whincaps' assertions, in fact the number of inspections being undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has fallen dramatically in recent years. Last year research by the Centre for Corporate Accountability found that following the report of a major injury (fractures, amputations, asphyxiations, burns, electrocutions and blindness) in construction just 14.1% of such cases were formally investigated by the HSE.

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Construction is the most dangerous industry in Britain. It is recognised that management failure was a factor in excess of 70% of construction deaths. Despite this just 30% of companies who kill a worker are ever convicted.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: "Mr Whincapp's views are deeply disturbing. He paints an entirely unrealistic picture of health and safety. On many sites health and safety barely exists. It is a pity that someone in his position, a figurehead for the industry, appears to be more concerned about cutting corners than ensuring the safety of workers."

(CD/JM)