This is especially good news for the HSE
construction inspectorate, who will be allocated 10
of the new recruits after they were recently accused
of being inadequately resourced by the DWP, who
called for urgent action on site safety to help in
the fight to reduce the number of
accidents in the
workplace.
When the new posts are filled, it will take the
total number of HSE inspectors to 720, with 134 of
these being in the construction sector. This follows
the new spending settlement agreed with the DWP up
until 2011 which it is understood will see a rise of
3.6% on the previous budget to £715.5 million.
The construction industry has a disproportionately
high number of
accidents at work, particularly in
the refurbishment and house building sectors.
