SKILLS SAFETY IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR

That this House is concerned that the current review of the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM 2007) by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), planned for August 2013, will remove the reference to individual competence; recognises that the inclusion of competence in the CDM regulations is vital to ensure that the number of serious injuries and fatalities on construction sites are kept to a minimum; notes that whilst direct employee and employer relationships are referenced in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, inclusion in the CDM regulations ensures that competence is extended to the supply chain relationships that are so vital in the construction industry; and urges the Government and HSE to consider retaining the reference, to ensure the principal contractor always has responsibility for checking all those working on a site are competent.