Construction fatalities inquiry commissioned

Unions welcomed a government inquiry into the underlying causes of construction fatalities, but warned that vested interests were seeking to undermine it.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) commissioned the inquiry in December, and appointed Rita Donaghy, a former TUC president and Acas chair to lead it.

The inquiry will be undertaken in three phases: a review of existing research; a deeper analysis of underlying causes; followed by a report to Ministers and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Board in late spring this year.

Construction union UCATT pledged to play a full and active role in the inquiry, despite having reservations about efforts by the HSE to downgrade the inquiry’s significance.