HSE Inspectors enlist the help of Building Control Officers

10 July 2008

Faced with inspector recruitment difficulties, the HSE is trialling a joint-inspection scheme – using building control officers to undertake site inspections.

Over the past five years the HSE has struggled to recruit inspectors and staff numbers have decreased, leading to fears that business delivery could be compromised. The HSE currently has 124 full-time construction inspectors – the lowest number since the construction division was formed in 2002, although it is recruiting 10 more. However, there are approximately 4,000 building control officers in the public and private sectors in England and Wales.

The joint inspection scheme will focus on smaller sites, with building control officers reporting dangerous working practices that they encounter during normal site visits to the HSE.

The HSE’s Luton office is running the trial, which covers Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire – an area currently covered by just five HSE inspectors. By utilising building control officers this manpower is bolstered by up to 300 personnel, making the likelihood of an inspection much greater.

A reporting protocol is being developed for the scheme, but the HSE will be notified of safety breaches and the addresses of the sites where the breaches have occurred - along with photographic documentation that can be used by the HSE to take action without a site visit. High-risk activities, such as falls from height, asbestos exposure and workplace transport will be targeted under the trial scheme, which will be monitored for six months to see whether health and safety on small sites improves.

If successful, the scheme could be implemented nationwide.