mhl support support MPs call for more rigorous HSE inspections

Health and safety specialists MHL Support have echoed MPs’ concerns over the decreasing numbers of HSE inspectors as the number of workplace deaths continue to rise.

In the past five years, the HSE has reduced its number of inspectors by almost 25 per cent; from 916 to 760.

Senior MPs are concerned that the HSE underspent its budget in 2007 by a massive £12 million, while workplace deaths increased – 77 construction workers died at work last year, while 60 died in 2006.

Marc Schroder, CEO of MHL Support, said: "MPs are right to be concerned. The general feeling is that the HSE is failing to fulfil its duties, and that this is costing people their lives."

"The fact that new legislation has been brought in to make employers responsible for workplace deaths shows that Parliament is determined to crack down on health and safety in the workplace, but that money should be spent on increasing the number of inspections and enforcing that legislation.

"We have been working with a number of companies who take their responsibilities seriously, but when others are not policed or enforced, it makes a mockery of the efforts of those who do protect their employees" he said.

Geoffrey Podger, chief executive of the HSE has denied that the increasing number of fatalities is anything to do with the number of inspectors or the decreased amount of inspections.