Amicus reveals Opposition attempt to scupper construction law
David Cameron is spearheading an assault on new health and safety
regulations, designed to enhance worker protection and encourage
practical solutions to good health and safety management. The
assault takes the form of an
Early Day Motion calling for the new
Construction
Design and Management (CDM) Regulations 2007 to be
annulled.
Amicus believes the timing couldn’t have been any worse, with the
whole world watching the UK, as construction work is about to begin
for the 2012 Olympic Games. The health and safety management team
for the Olympic Games construction project have already put
together
proposals that are in line with the new
regulations. These regulations were only signed by the Minister for
Health and Safety on 7 February and laid in Parliament on 15
February with a view to implementation on 6 April.
Yes, the
Regulations
are and should be subject to the usual procedures of Parliamentary
scrutiny, but let’s be fair, the due process of consultation with
all stakeholders, for these particular regulations must be one of
the best examples around. All interested parties had plenty of
opportunity to sift through the finer details and be able to
influence this piece of legislation.
The support for this new law is well renowned, and comes from
organisations such as the Health and Safety Executive, Department
of Trade and Industry, Trade Unions and most of the construction
business community. These regulations were approved unanimously by
the Health and Safety Commission, which represents both large and
small employers, trade unions, safety professionals and local
authorities.
Amicus wholeheartedly supports the
Regulations (although
would have preferred them to go further) which have been agreed and
passed. Amicus quite frankly does not understand this unprovoked
opposition to them; they are a good example of how legislation can
be simplified without removing or reducing the levels of
protection.
It seems incredible that the opposition is asking for this
annulment, in light of
recent figures revealing that 74 people have died on building sites
already this year, an increase of 14 per cent on the 2005/06
figures. It seems a small minority lobby wants to
bypass an excellent example of industry-wide involvement and debate
resulting in overwhelming support, because things didn’t quite go
their way. Amicus wants workers to go home safe, not play with
their lives; Mr. Cameron should leave the games to the
Olympians.
For more details contact
Rob
Miguel. Amicus Health and Safety Officer, who has
produced
this briefing for MPs.
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20 March 2007
In connection with Early Day Motion: EDM 1151
The Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007) consolidate and revise the main pieces of existing construction health and safety at work legislation, and also implement the European Temporary or Mobile Construction Sites Directive (TMCSD). The Regulations place duties on all those involved in the construction process and require them to work together, throughout construction projects, to ensure the health and safety of those building, maintaining, using (and ultimately demolishing) buildings.
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