Construction union UCATT is complaining that the HSE's heavily trailed blitz of spot checks on 1000 building refurbishment sites this month is a "sticking plaster" and that a flurry of one-off checks (especially when you've warned people you are coming) is no substitute for a full programme of inspections throughout the year.
I reckon the HSE would argue that with stretched resources, the drive to cut deaths and injuries in refurbishment (which accounted for more than half last year's construction fatalities) is best executed through an initiative that might scare small builders into cleaning up their act, on the basis they might be targeted this month.
I can see both sides. The refurb contractors know that even if they shouldn't risk bad behaviour this month, they face little risk of inspection if they drop standards again afterwards. But the HSE has to get maximum bang for its enforcement buck and just doesn't have the inspectors to get round even a big minority of construction sites.
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