REVITALISING CONSTRUCTION DISCUSSION DOCUMENT

HSE Press Release: E050:03 - 28 March 2003

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has received almost 300 responses to the 'Revitalising Health and Safety in Construction Discussion Document' and is currently in the process of analysing the broad range of responses.

At the Health and Safety Commission (HSC)'s Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) meeting yesterday Kevin Myers, HSE Chief Inspector of Construction, said: "HSE would like to thank the many people within the industry who have given their time and effort to consider the issues raised in the discussion document and contribute responses on how to further improve health and safety in construction."

Mr Myers said: "We have nearly completed our initial analysis of the responses to the Discussion Document. They contain many thoughtful suggestions and provide us with a useful steer on a number of issues. However, it is fair to say that they have not revealed any simple magic solutions to the health and safety challenges that the industry faces. This reinforces our view that the answer lies in a wide-ranging agenda pursued by all sections of the industry with vigour and persistence. Conclusions drawn from the responses to the discussion document will inform HSE's future direction and strategies to assist the industry in improving its health and safety performance, including our engagement with other government departments and industry bodies."

HSE expects to publish an analysis of the responses to the discussion document and the follow up actions proposed in late June 2003.

The responses have been entered into a database and will be placed onto the HSE website by Wednesday 2 April 2003, enabling industry access to the views that have been put forward. All responses to this consultation exercise are made public, unless respondents have asked for their comments to be treated as confidential. Respondents' personal details will not be included.

Anyone interested in viewing the databases of responses can find them at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/2002.htm by following the link to the Discussion Document (DDE20).

Notes to editors

1. In September 2002 HSE published 'Revitalising Health and Safety in Construction Discussion Document', based on discussions with the Health and Safety Commission's Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC), to stimulate discussion about the best ways to improve health and safety standards in construction.

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