Tragic crane deaths

Unite is seeking urgent answers after a crane collapse in Crewe killed two workers and injured several other people.

The accident happened yesterday (Wednesday June 21) at Dunwoody Way in Crewe on a residential construction site operated by Seddon. It is understood that a small tower crane which was being erected collapsed.

“At this time our thoughts and condolences are with the families of the workers killed or injured in this terrible accident,” said Unite national officer for construction Bernard McAulay.

“We are currently examining if any of the victims were members of Unite and if so, we will do everything industrially and legally to achieve justice for them.

“Workers on construction sites throughout the UK will now have serious questions and concerns about the safety of similar cranes.”

He urged, “It is imperative that the health and safety executive (HSE) investigates and as a matter of urgency provides advice and reassurance to ensure that similar accidents cannot and will not happen again.”

Inspection decline

The fatal accident in Crewe coincided with Unite publishing the findings of a Freedom of Information request to the HSE which revealed that the number of inspections in construction had declined by 14 per cent in the last 12 months. Inspections in the North West declined by 5 per cent during this time.

The FOI response from the HSE revealed that the number of unannounced inspections occurring in the construction industry fell by 14 per cent in just 12 months. In 2015/16 there were 9,219 inspections and this reduced to 7,912 in 2016/17. The reduction in inspections follows a trend as there was also a 4 per cent decrease in the previous 12 months.

Construction is the most dangerous industry in the UK. Several academic studies have revealed a clear correlation between the frequency of inspections and compliance with safety laws.

And with the government cutting the HSE’s budget by 46 per cent by 2020 compared to the funding it received in 2010, Unite is seeking urgent meetings with ministers and the health and safety executive. It has written to the HSE and David Gauke the new work and pensions secretary. Unite wants information from Mr Gauke about the government’s future plans for the HSE and safety laws.

Successive Conservative governments have scrapped safety laws and there are concerns this could increase as part of the Brexit process.

Unite is seeking a meeting with the HSE to ascertain exactly what caused the latest decrease in construction inspections and what strategies are being put in place to reverse the trend.

The regional breakdown also revealed marked differences in inspection activity with just one region recording an increase in the past 12 months – which was Scotland, up 9 per cent.

The figures for all the other regions were down; Eastern -22 per cent, East Midlands -26 per cent, London -14 per cent, North East -39 per cent, North West -5 per cent, South East -8 per cent, South West -32 per cent, Wales -15 per cent, West Midlands -13 per cent, Yorkshire -4 per cent.

‘Alarming’

“These figures are alarming as they demonstrate a huge decrease in vital lifesaving inspections,” said Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail.

“Sadly there remain far too many employers who are all too willing to cut safety regulations and it is only the genuine prospect of an unannounced inspection which keeps them in check.

“The government has slashed funding for the HSE and it is clear that it is increasingly struggling to make ends meet. With a new secretary of state in place Unite and our members need to know what plans he has for the HSE and safety laws.

“We also need answers from the HSE about whether they are taking steps to redress this fall in inspections and whether there are specific reasons for these reductions,” she added.