Inquiry into the Underlying Causes of Construction Fatal Accidents

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Inquiry into the Underlying Causes of
Construction Fatal Accidents

• One Death is too Many
• Rita Donaghy CBE
• Chair of the Inquiry

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Terms of Reference

• To conduct an Inquiry into the underlying causes
  of construction fatal accidents
• Phase 1 - Ten year review by HSE
• - 2008 study on root causes of 25 migrant /
  foreign worker fatalities
• - Preparation for Phase 2 research
• Phase 2 - Research based on wider source of
  evidence
• - Review of 25 recent fatal accidents
• Phase 3 - Chairs review after extensive
  industry consultation and Phase 1 and 2
  reports

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Recommendations

• Construction fatalities should be socially
  unacceptable
• It is a social issue and should not be confined
  to health and safety
• Building regulations should be amended to include
  process
• Clarify responsibility of directors to assist
  courts
• Positive duty on directors
• Extend remit of Gangmasters Licensing Authority
  to construction
• Mandatory Common Minimum Standards should apply
  throughout public procurement
• Standard agreed bench-marks on pre-qualification.

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Other Recommendations (1)

• Investigate built-in delays in prosecution
• Full-time Minister for Construction
• Construction Skills to be more re-distributive
• Research high drop-out rate on apprenticeships
• Consolidate and renew CSCS system
• Review adequacy and relevance of college
  curricula
• Greater trade union or worker participation
  funding for worker safety advisors
• Protection for families / contact addresses /
  legacy issues.

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Other Recommendations (2)

• Partnership through supply chain
• Occupational Health
• Awareness raising campaign for reporting
  accidents / targeted campaign for vulnerable
  groups
• HSE London resources / non-accident
  prosecutions / communications strategy /
  promotion of directors guidance
• Continue review of recent fatal accidents.

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Where to from Here?

• Government considering response
• Voice for the industry
• Partnership, stability and profit.

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Inquiry into the Underlying Causes of
Construction Fatal Accidents
Reports http//www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/polic
y-publications/fatal-accidents-inquiry.shtml http
//www.hse.gov.uk/construction/inquiry.htm