HSE Blitz Reveals Poor Standards on Construction Sites Across Scotland and the North of England

A week long construction safety blitz across Scotland and the North of England resulted in enforcement action being taken at more than half of the 444 sites visited, stopping dangerous work where serious risks to people's health and safety were identified.

Fifty-four Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors were involved in the blitz which concentrated on falls from height, welfare and transport. The inspectors served 206 Prohibition Notices to stop unsafe working practices. A further 53 Improvement Notices were issued, mostly for inadequate transport arrangements.

Pam Waldron, Head of Operations (Construction) Scotland and Northern England, who led the blitz, said:'The clear message is that the industry must tackle those things which are killing and injuring people, and making them ill at work. Sadly the blitz indicates that there is a common pattern across construction sites in Great Britain of relaxed attitudes to health, safety and welfare.

'As in the London blitz last month, we found standards on many of the sites to be well below what we expect. I personally witnessed many examples of poor site management and lack of control of subcontractors allowing unsafe working practices. I also saw individual workers putting themselves at risk by ignoring site rules and taking shortcuts. But there were also examples of well run sites, where health and safety risks were properly controlled. We need to see much more of this.

'Three quarters of the Prohibition Notices served dealt with the risks associated with working at height, such as lack of edge protection, working near roof openings, steel erection and unsafe scaffolding. As falls from height are the cause of nearly half the construction fatalities, it is vital that the industry does more to address this problem.'

The blitz was the second of a rolling programme of blitzes to be held across Great Britain over the coming months. The inspectors arrived unannounced at both small and large sites across Scotland and Northern England, and were organised into six teams operating from HSE's Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Manchester and Preston offices.

Blitz Figures - Summary
444 Sites Visited in Edinburgh Glasgow Manchester Merseyside Newcastle Preston
Prohibition Notices 206
Improvement Notices 53
Total Notices Issued 259

Breakdown of Prohibition Notices
Edge Protection 10
Fragile Roof 1
Roof Openings 5
Roof Truss Erection 2
Risk of Fall 1
Work at Height 120
Steel Erection 3
Unsafe Scaffolding 10
Scaffold Erection Methods 6
Fall Arrest Harnesses 1
Excavations 4
Transport 8
Welfare (incl. Cement Work & Wash Facilities) 16
Site Management & Supervision 1
(Lifting Equipment 1
Manual Handling 5
Asbestos 4
No Construction Plan 2
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 1
Fire Risk 1 1
Personal Protective Equipment 2
General Safety 1
Other 1
Total 206

Breakdown of Improvement Notices
Work at Height 1
Workplace Transport   18
Welfare (inc. .Cement Work & Wash Facilities) 13
Training 1
Risk Assessment 1
Drying Facilities 1
First Aid 4
Competent Person 1
General Cleanliness 1
Other 12
Total 53

3. There were 114 fatal injuries in the construction industry between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001, eight of which were to members of the public. A further 5,046 people suffered major injuries, 317 of whom were members of the public. 9,920 workers in the construction industry suffered injuries that kept them off work for more than three days.

4. Forty-four per cent of fatal injuries to workers in construction between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001 were caused by falls from height; 17%- struck by moving vehicles, 8% - struck by moving/falling object, 17% - trapped by something collapsing/overturning, 14% - other. (Health and Safety Statistics 2000/01)

New Construction Orders: May 2002

Orders in the twelve months to May 2002 rose by one per cent compared to orders in the previous twelve months and orders in the three months to May 2002 rose by 13 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier. Orders in the three months to May 2002 rose by nine per cent compared to the previous period. This was due to large increases in the infrastructure, public non-housing and private industrial sectors.

Private housing orders in the twelve months to May 2002 rose by six per cent compared to the previous twelve months. Orders in three months to May 2002 rose by three per cent compared with the previous period and by 15 per cent compared with the same period a year ago.

Public housing and housing association orders in the year to May 2002 rose by 11 per cent when compared to the previous year. Public housing and housing association orders in the three months to May 2002 fell by 33 per cent compared to the previous period, and by one per cent compared to the same period a year earlier. All comparisons in this sector are affected by large variations due to its relatively small size.

Infrastructure orders in the twelve months to May 2002 fell by five per cent compared with the previous twelve months. Orders in the three months to May 2002 were 23 per cent higher compared with the previous period, and were 26 per cent higher than in the same period a year earlier. Comparisons in this sector continue to be dominated by the extremely high March figure.

Public non-housing orders (excluding infrastructure) in twelve months to May 2002 were 16 per cent higher when compared with the previous twelve months. Orders in the three months to May 2002 were 21 per cent higher compared with the previous period, and were 24 per cent higher compared to the same period a year earlier
Private commercial orders in the twelve months to May 2002 were unchanged compared to the previous twelve months. Orders in the three month period to May 2002 were four per cent higher compared to the previous period, and were 10 per cent higher than in the same period a year earlier.

Private industrial orders in the twelve months to May 2002 fell by 13 per cent compared with the previous twelve months. Orders in the three months to May 2002 were 18 per cent higher than in the previous period, but were 16 per cent lower compared to the same period a year earlier.

HSE Warns Children to Keep off Building Sites

A warning to keep children off building sites where they risk fatal injury has been issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Over the last five years, six children have died and 551 have suffered major injuries on sites - including an 9 year old child who died when playing around an unfenced storage area in Yorkshire last year.

Now parents, teachers and the construction industry have been asked to stress that whilst building sites may look like playgrounds, they also contain hidden dangers which children fail to recognise.

Kevin Myers, Chief Inspector of Construction, said:
'As part of Child Safety Week (June 18-24), I would like to focus attention on the continuing need to prevent accidents to children on construction sites. This is particularly relevant in the school holiday period, which has in the past led to a catalogue of child deaths and injuries.

'Accidents to children are particularly harrowing for all involved, more so because they could normally have been prevented by simple precautions and children being made aware of the risks.'

The accidents typically arose from a failure to:
* take effective steps to keep children off sites, including preventing access to scaffolding;
* secure and keep plant safe, especially at the end of the working day;
* store materials on site safely.

Mr Myers added:
'Four years ago, HSE issued guidance on protecting the public from the dangers of construction work. The industry should be acting on this and eliminating these serious accidents. Parents and teachers can also play their part by reminding their children or pupils never to go on to building sites.'

HSE's guidance booklet, 'Protecting the public - your next move', provides general guidance to the industry on potential hazards to the public from construction activities and ways of controlling them. HSE has also produced a video, 'Game Over', aimed at 7-11 year olds, warning them of the dangers of construction sites.

Copies of 'Protecting the public - your next move', ISBN 0 7176 1148 5, price £7.95, can be ordered online at: http://www.hsebooks.co.uk or are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, tel: 01787-881165 or fax: 01787-313995). HSE priced publications are also available from all good bookshops. Copies of 'Game Over', price £29.38, can be obtained from HSE Videos, PO Box 35, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7EX, tel: 0845 7419411

Examples of accidents which HSE inspectors have investigated involving children on construction sites.
* A 9 year old boy died when playing around an unfenced temporary storage area used for concrete pipes and rings. One of the rings rolled into another ring, causing it to break into 4 pieces, killing the boy. (Yorks & NE)

* A 10 year old boy suffered leg injuries when he fell tearing his leg on the bolt of a scaffold fitting whilst climbing onto a stack of bricks. The boy gained access to the site via breeze blocks stacked alongside the site fencing. (Home Counties)

* A 5 year old girl suffered a broken arm when she fell from a stack of unfenced concrete blocks which were to be used for rebuilding a wall. (North West)

* A 4 year old boy suffered a cut to his head which required 12 stitches and a 7 year old girl suffered fractured ribs whilst playing on a housebuild site. They gained access to the site through gaps in the boundary fence with an adjacent unoccupied property. Another child climbed onto the top of a stack of timber which then collapsed. The boy was hit on the head by the frame supporting the timber and the girl, who had been sitting below the stack, was trapped under the falling timber. (North West)

* A 6 year old boy suffered a broken leg when a kerbstone was dislodged and fell into an excavation causing the injury. It was thought that he, and others, had gained access to the partially completed house building site, without being observed. (Wales & West)

* An 11 year old boy suffered a fractured skull when a counterweight block was dislodged and fell onto his head. The weight had been used to hold down a stack of lightweight polystyrene blocks and became dislodged as the boy, and others, climbed on them. Part of the site, in a public park, was not provided with fencing to the full height of 2m, allowing possible access. (London & SE)

* A 10 year old boy suffered a fractured wrist when he fell from a scaffold erected at the block where he lived. It was thought that access had been afforded through a broken window cover at the communal stairway, and that several children had climbed through. (London & SE)

* An 11 year old boy was injured when he was struck by a wooden cable drum which he, and others, were rolling along. The children had taken the drum from a nearby site which had not been provided with adequate security fencing. It was agreed that the drums would be removed from site over future weekend periods. (Scotland)

A new children's booklet, aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of playing on and around construction sites has been published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Aimed at seven-to eleven-year-olds, Stay Safe, Building Site Safety, features a cartoon character called Digger, who guides the reader around a variety of games, puzzles and comic strips to encourage children to think about the hazards that exist on building sites. The book examines different types of building site situations from new builds to demolition sites.

It also contains a pull out poster of a building site with hazards and asks children to spot them by putting stickers in the correct places.

Many children view construction sites as playgrounds and think they are fun and safe places to play. However they are far from fun and safe, 16 children were killed in construction related incidents over the last 10 years, and 802 were injured.

This booklet is designed to change attitudes and bring home to children the message that they should never go on a building site.

The interactive magazine is designed to be a fun way of learning about the dangers that exist on construction sites. It covers such issues as large vehicles coming and going from sites; scaffolding; building materials such as bricks, pipes and sand; and heavy machinery, all of which can be extremely dangerous.

Mike Cosman, head of HSE's Construction Sector, said "Building sites act like a magnet to children who don't understand the dangers they present. It is not enough to say 'No'. Children need to have the risks explained to them in a way they can relate to.

"This resource pack should be worked through with parents or teachers, who can supplement the core message with their own experience. We hope that by making this pack fun, it will hold children's attention and teach them important, life saving messages."

80,000 copies of the booklet have been printed and will be distributed by HSE's Workplace Contact Officers (WCO) during their visits to schools and a variety of other events they are involved in, in which they meet children and other child safety campaigners.

The books can also be ordered by schools and members of the public free of charge by contacting HSE books on 01787 881165.

The Magazine can also be downloaded free of charge from the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc447.pdf (3.5MB) and the poster can also be downloaded at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc447poster.pdf (1.5MB)

Last Chance Saloon for County's Cowboy Builders

Tradesmen from across Oxfordshire today attended the first regional roll out of Quality Mark, the Government's anti-cowboy builder initiative, and were offered the chance to sign up to the scheme free of charge.

Supporting the launch, Construction Minister Brian Wilson said:
'Bringing the Quality Mark to Oxfordshire tradesmen sends a clear signal to cowboy builders that we will not stand for shoddy workmanship or consumer rip-offs.

'The scheme will separate out the genuinely professional builders from the cowboys, once and for all. Homeowners will no longer need to pick local tradespeople at random.

'Home-improvement is seen by many to be a lottery, which puts them off commissioning work in the first place. Reputable builders stand to gain so much by becoming members of a quality assured scheme.

'By signing up to Quality Mark, tradesmen can send a powerful message to a huge, untapped market of sceptical homeowners. Companies that sign up to Quality Mark will improve their businesses and give themselves a competitive advantage both now and in the future.'

Oxfordshire contractors specialising in any of 18 different trade sectors working in domestic repair, maintenance and home improvement found out about the scheme and what it can do for their business, if they get through a practical but rigorous assessment.

Oxfordshire Trading Standards, working in partnership with the Department of trade and Industry (DTI), sponsors of the Quality mark initiative, and the district councils are keen to roll the scheme out across the county in response to the large number of complaints about cowboy builders, which reach 100,000 per year, more than for second-hand cars. This harms the reputation of the construction industry as well as being a headache for homeowners.

Quality Mark provides reputable builders with a means of demonstrating the standard of their work through a simple independent assessment. Once approved, tradesmen will have access to more discerning customers seeking quality workmanship and an independent complaints procedure that will help protect them from malicious complaints and assist in the pursuit of bad debts.

The Scheme is government and industry backed and will provide Oxfordshire consumers with a simple way of ensuring quality tradesmen work in their homes. It will be launched to them once the number of tradespeople has reached critical mass across the trades.

CPA Construction Forecasts - 2002 to 2004

Economic background
The world economic background remains poor, with sluggish economic growth in the US and Europe. There are tentative signs of recovery in far eastern markets, however, and trading conditions are expected to improve over the forecast period.

UK economy is expected to avoid recession, with increased government spending becoming the main engine for growth as the rise in consumer expenditure slows. GDP growth is forecast to drop to 1.8% this year, before strengthening to 2.75% in 2003 and 2004.

Bank base rates are expected to edge up over the next 18 months to 4.75%.
The corporate sector and in particular UK manufacturing will remain under pressure during 2002 from the slowdown in world economic growth.

Overview
Public sector investment (including PFI projects) will be the primary source of growth over the next three years.

Some delay is anticipated in the delivery of the additional expenditure funded by the Comprehensive Spending Review, with only three-quarters of the increase in construction-related expenditure implied in the CSR feeding through by March 2004.

Private sector growth is forecast to slow to around 1.5% both this year and next and to 1% in 2004.
Overall construction growth is forecast to reach 3.7%. Growth is forecast to remain firm at 3.8% and 2.9% in 2003 and 2004 respectively. Throughout the forecast period growth will be very much driven by increased funding under the Comprehensive Spending Review and subsequently by the impending General Election.

Key Points Underlying Forecasts
Public New Housing
A substantial increase in government funding is planned for the latter half of the forecast period.
The impact upon the number of new homes being built will be muted, however, by the introduction of higher grant rates and the increased focus upon brownfield developments in higher cost areas such as London

Public Housing RM&I
Sector activity continues to disappoint with local authorities slow to respond to the increased funding provision from last April under the Comprehensive Spending Review

Planned transfer of council properties into housing association ownership is significantly behind schedule, delaying much need long-term investment on improving the stock and blocking routine maintenance on properties listed for transfer.

Sector output is now expected to remain at current low level during 2002. Subsequent growth is dependent upon realisation of increased council expenditure and faster progress with transfer programme.

Private Housing
General housing market activity and house price inflation expected to ease during the second half of 2002.

Planning restrictions remain major supply-side constraint upon new housing activity.

Private housing starts also forecast to rise to 164,000 this year despite a moderating during the final half of this year in response to quieter market conditions. Completions, at 147,000 are also forecast to be up on 2001.

Slower real income growth and rising interest rates forecast to moderate starts and completions during 2003 and 2004.

Private housing RM&I
Strong re-mortgaging activity has helped lift sector activity over the last year as households invest in home improvement works.

Recent strengthening in property transactions should fuel move-related work during 2002.

Rising real incomes are forecast to underpin sector growth through the forecast period.

Infrastructure
Strong growth in 2002 fuelled by dramatic increase in road and rail investment (Birmingham Northern Relief Road, CTRL, etc.)

Order books point to further strong growth in transport infrastructure in 2003 and 2004.

Sharp fall in water industry expenditure to continue this year. Output set to recover during 2003 and 2004 as water companies begin to implement new investment programmes.

Main impact of Terminal 5 to be felt from 2003 onwards.

Overall sector forecast to enjoy strong sustained recovery throughout the forecast period.

Central to this forecast is the continued commitment of funds for the road investment under the Ten Year Transport Strategy and the swift resolution of the current crisis in the rail industry.

Industrial
Sector activity falls sharply this year as the recession in UK manufacturing bites.

Subsequent recovery forecast for 2004 as UK manufacturing respond to from improved UK and world economic growth and more favourable exchange rates.

Commercial
New office construction activity set to peak this year, with output forecast to decline from 2003 onward in response rising office vacancy rates and weakening rental growth.

Recent surge in retail construction activity is forecast to continue through into 2003 as developers press ahead with schemes currently on-site. Growth is expected to slow over the forecast period, however, in response to weaker consumer spending growth.

In the absence of new major schemes, entertainment related work will remain in decline during 2002 and 2003 before stabilising in the final year of the forecast as new Wembley stadium helps boost activity.

Whilst the flow of new PFI projects disappointed in 2001, sector activity is forecast to strengthen over the next three years as new health and education projects are released.

Public Non-Housing New Work
The recent strengthening in output over the last 12 months in response to higher new orders, especially for health and education projects, is set to continue during the remainder of 2002.

Further sustained growth is forecast for 2003 and 2004 as additional funds released under the Comprehensive Spending Review filter through.

Non Housing Repair & Maintenance
Public non-residential R&M activity is forecast to enjoy a sustained rise in output over the forecast period as local authorities deploy increased central government funding towards tackling the repair backlog on school buildings and the local road network.

Private non-residential R&M activity has been buoyed by Railtrack's emergency repair programme over the last year. Rail maintenance expenditure remains firm and will sustain sector activity during 2002. Subsequent years output should be supported by a more general recovery in maintenance expenditure as corporate profitability improves.

Building Site Raids Urged to Catch ‘£2bn a year’ Dole Cheats

A union leader today called for raids on building sites to catch dole cheats and 'bogus' self-employed workers.

Ucatt general secretary George Brumwell said the Inland Revenue is being robbed of up to £2 billion a year because bogus employment is widespread in the industry.

He said high profile building sites in England, Scotland and Wales should be targeted. 'It is time to clean up the construction industry, particularly those subcontractors who exploit workers by forcing them or encouraging them to go on the dole so they can pay them a lower wage, or to pretend to be self-employed.'

Mr Brumwell said that unscrupulous subcontractors are escaping having to pay national insurance, sick pay or pensions by forcing workers to be self-employed.

On some building sites, half of all workers are forced to be self-employed and not only the Chancellor loses money, but honest construction companies find it difficult to compete, said Mr Brumwell.
He added that decent, hard-working building workers are fed up with the 'cheats, con men and cowboy companies' who are robbing Britain.

'If the government picked high profile sites and has a blitz, it would send shock waves through the industry and the clean up could begin.'

Jaime Ribas New President of FEMIB

Jaime Ribas from Spain was elected new president of the Federation of the European Building Joinery Associations (FEMIB) during the last FEMIB meeting on May 9th, 2002 in Madrid. He succeeds Mons Tore Lyssand of Norway. Ribas (45 years old) also holds the presidency of the Spanish member organisation FEIM (Federacion Espanola de Industrias de la Madera) and he is Director General of the Spanish company Puertas Norma, S.A.. Ribas' foremost goal as the new FEMIB president is to strengthen FEMIB and it's European executive powers.

FEMIB was first established in 1958 as a European interest group of construction related wood industry associations. It currently represents 12 associations of 10 European countries. FEMIB is also one ofthe influential founding associations of EuroWindoor, which was first established in 1999 as material independent umbrella association ofthe European window, door and curtain wall industry.

Further development of the European market - which is currently at the verge of implementing the CE Mark - is one of the main challenges of FEMIB and its sister associations in EuroWindoor: FAECF (aluminium) and EPW (PVC). The CE mark regulates the conformity of a product and therefore supports its free trade within Europe.

A special goal for Jaime Ribas is the strengthening of the European position of FEMIB. 'The more national associations we have as members, the more representative and sustaining work we can do throughout Europe in the interest of the industry. To expand the membership bases of FEMIB is our outspoken goal' stated Ribas on the occasion of taking office.

Ribas studied economics and law. Before his current positions, he was the president of the Spanish Association of Door Manufacturers and published a number of articles in the trade press. Ribas is Director General of Puertas Norma, S.A., one of the leading Spanish door manufacturers. Puertas Norma is located in Soria and was established in 1955. It offers a wide range of products - starting with wooden doors and ranging to fire proof and bullet proof security doors.

Tel: +49-69-95 50 54 0
Web: http://www.eurowindoor.org

Output and Employment in the Construction Industry: First Quarter 2002 Output

The total volume of construction output in the year to the first quarter of 2002 rose by five per cent compared to the previous twelve months. Overall new work rose over the same period, despite adecrease in the private industrial sectors. Repair and maintenance rose, with increases in the private housing and private and public non-housing sectors easily offsetting a fall in the public housing sector. Output in the first quarter of 2002 rose by three per cent

compared to the fourth quarter of 2002 in volume terms and was unchanged in current prices.
The total volume of new work in the year to the first quarter of 2002 was six per cent higher compared with the previous year and was three per cent higher in the first quarter compared with the previous quarter. The total volume of repair and maintenance work was four per cent higher in the twelve months to the first quarter of 2002 compared with the previous year, and rose by two per cent in the first quarter of 2002 compared to the previous quarter.

New private housing work in the year to the first quarter of 2002 was unchanged compared with the previous year but the first quarter was two per cent higher than the fourth quarter of 2001. New work in the public housing sector in the year to the first quarter of 2002 was 14 per cent higher (on a small base figure) compared with the previous year and the latest quarter was 10 per cent higher than the previous quarter. New infrastructure output in the twelve months to the first quarter of 2002 was 11 per cent higher compared with the previous year, and the first quarter of 2002 rose by 17 per cent compared with the fourth quarter of 2001.

New construction work in the private industrial sector in the year to the first quarter of 2002 was three per cent lower compared with the previous year, and the first quarter was seven per cent lower than the previous quarter. New private commercial output in the year to the first quarter of 2002 increased by five per cent compared to the previous year and increased by one per cent in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2001. New work in the public non-housing sector (excluding infrastructure) in the year to the first quarter of 2002 rose by 16 per cent compared to the previous year, but the first quarter fell by one per cent compared with the previous quarter.

Housing repair and maintenance work (including improvement work) in the public sector was three per cent lower in the year to the first quarter of 2002 compared with the previous year and was two per cent lower in the most recent quarter compared with previous quarter. Housing repair and maintenance work in the private sector in the twelve months to the first quarter of 2002 was three per cent higher compared with the previous year and was one per cent higher in the first quarter compared to the previous quarter.

Repair and maintenance work in the public non-housing sector in the year to the first quarter of 2002 was 10 per cent higher compared with the previous year and was four per cent higher in the most recent quarter compared with the fourth quarter of 2001. Repair and maintenance work in the private non-housing sector in the year to the first quarter of 2002 was four per cent higher compared with the previous year and was six per cent higher in the most recent quarter compared with the previous quarter.

Employment: The seasonally adjusted number of employees in employment in January 2002 was seven per cent higher compared with October 2001 and was six per cent higher compared with January 2001. Total employment (including the self-employed) in January 2002 was two per cent higher
compared with October 2001 and was five per cent higher compared with January 2001.

CPA Comments on First Quarter Output Figures
 
The Construction Output figures, released on Friday by the DTI for the first quarter of this year, show a dramatic increase of 8% over the first quarter of last year, the largest year on year increase since the boom of 1988.

Commenting on the figures, Construction Products Association Economics Director, Allan Wilén, said:  'This marked increase in construction output is a positive indication that the Government is starting to deliver on its promises. 
 
'The figures really do show a dramatic increase in expenditure in a number of important areas including health (60%) and education (30%).  It is also clear that the country's infrastructure is benefiting from high transport investment with an increase of 50%.  Unfortunately, public housing R&M activity continues to disappoint, falling 3% during 2001/2002 despite a 26% increase in local authority capital funding for housing.
 
'In contrast to the strong public sector performance, private sector activity is subdued and the disparity is expected to become even more stark over the coming year as private housing and commercial activity cools.
 
'These positive first quarter results underline the importance of ensuring the timely delivery of planned Government investment.'
 
The Construction Products Association represents the UK's producers and distributors of construction products, components and fittings.  It acts as the voice of the construction products sector, representing the industry-wide view of its members.  The Association is committed to demonstrating the importance of a growing, profitable and sustainable construction products sector within the UK economy.
 
Contact:Allan Wilén
Tel: 020 7323 3770
E-mail mailto:awilen@constprod.org.uk

Billions Wasted on Poor Quality Building Work

New research by the National Federation of Builders (NFB) published last week shows that homeowners could be wasting billions every year on paying cowboys builders for poor quality building work.
Over a quarter of homeowners surveyed by the NFB said they wouldn't bother asking a builder for references before inviting them on site to start work.

Fifty per cent said they wouldn't take out a warranty on the work, although an unwarrantied modification could decrease the future value of the property. The research also showed that:

* Over a third of homeowners wouldn't spend any longer than 60 minutes sourcing, researching and appointing a builder.

* Half would happily pay an advance cash deposit for building work, regardless of whether it was required or not.

* One in five wouldn't bother checking if their builder had public liability insurance - a critical requirement if your builder injures a member of the public.

* Almost 50 per cent would accept a VAT-free quote from a tax-dodging builder if it meant saving them money, although they wouldn't have any comeback should the work prove unsatisfactory.

NFB chief exectuive Tony Maynard, said: 'It's no surprise that so many homeowners are getting caught out by cowboy builders when they're failing to take the right precautions.

'Homeowners spend an estimated £10.9 billion every year with builders having essential repair, maintenance and improvement work done on their home.

'Our message is simple - do your homework and don't take unnecessary risks. Your home is the most important purchase you're ever likely to make and your biggest asset.'

The NFB represents nearly 4,000 professional member companies. The Office of Fair Trading receives over 100,000 complaints against cowboy builders each year.

2000-01 SURVEY OF ENGLISH HOUSING: MAIN RESULTS

More than half of owners buying their home in 2000-01 still had an interest only mortgage (mostly endowment), according to the Survey of English Housing published last week. However the percentage had decreased to 53 per cent from 58 per cent a year earlier.

The Survey of English Housing is a continuous Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, ODPM, (formerly DTLR) survey of about 20,000 households each year, providing a wide range of useful data on the housing circumstances of people throughout England. The 2000-01 survey was carried out by the National Centre for Social Research.

The survey found that 70 per cent of households in England owned their own home, 20 per cent rented from the social sector (a council or Registered Social Landlord- Housing Association) and 10 per cent rented privately.

Thirty nine per cent of owners (about a quarter of all households) owned their home outright. Ninety four per cent of outright owners were over 45, and 63 per cent were retired.

The majority of tenants were satisfied with their landlord - 67 per cent of council tenants, 73 per cent of RSL tenants and 78 per cent of private tenants were satisfied with the overall service.

Thirty one per cent of all social sector tenants thought the time they had waited to be allocated their current home was short, 42 per cent thought it was reasonable, and 27 per cent thought it was too long. Thirty nine per cent of tenants were content with the choice that they had been offered when allocated their home, while 17 per cent said they did not have enough choice and 44 per cent reported they were offered no choice at all.

The average (mean) rent paid by private tenants in 2000/01 was £92 per week. This included any amount met from Housing Benefit, but excluded any additional service charges. Those with Assured Shorthold tenancies had the highest average rent, of £103 per week, and those with Regulated tenancies the lowest (£54 per week).

The two aspects of their area householders most commonly wanted to see improved in 2000-01 were 'crime and vandalism' (mentioned by 47 per cent) and 'opportunities and facilities for children and young people' (mentioned by 45 per cent). Next in importance were 'local amenities, parks and leisure facilities' (38 per cent) and local transport (30 per cent).

Housing in England 2000/01 is published by TSO, price £39.50. It contains approximately 300 data tables and figures supported by an extensive analytical commentary, together with technical details of the survey. It is compiled by the National Centre for Social Research who carried out the 2000/01 survey on behalf of the DTLR. A copy will also be posted on the DTLR web site at:
http://www.housing.dtlr.gov.uk/research/seh/seh01/index.htm

HEALTH AND SAFETY BLITZ ON CONSTRUCTION SITES IN LONDON: THE RESULTS

A week long construction safety blitz across London has revealed that many of the capital's construction sites still have poor health and safety working standards. Enforcement action was taken against almost two-thirds of the sites visited.

223 construction sites were inspected during the blitz and 110 Prohibition Notices were served. Unsafe work was stopped on nearly half the sites visited for issues such as a failure to provide proper fall protection and a lack of welfare facilities.

A further 11 Improvement Notices were issued, most for inadequate welfare facilities.

The blitz was the first of a rolling programme of blitzes to be held across the country over the next 12 months, and concentrated on falls from height and welfare. It took place between 29 April and 3 May 2002. 31 inspectors from HSE, including 12 from outside London, took part in the blitz, arriving unannounced at both small and large sites across the capital. They were organised into three teams which covered the London Boroughs of Camden; Islington; Hackney; Tower Hamlets; Southwark; Lambeth; Lewisham; Greenwich; Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea; and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Barry Mullen, the inspector who led the blitz, said: "We were disappointed with health and safety standards on many of the sites we visited, as is shown by the number of notices served. However, there were a few sites where contractors had put thought and effort into achieving good health and safety standards.

"Inspectors served notices where there was an immediate risk to people's health and safety though the underlying cause of the problems related to issues such as end of job pressures, poor consideration of health and safety issues in design, failure by main and sub contractors to identify obvious risks and implement safe systems of work, and inadequate project arrangements for health and safety by clients and developers.

"It is clear that the industry has still not got to grips with the fall from heights problem. Figures from the blitz show an unacceptably high level of enforcement for this issue. This is totally unsatisfactory, especially since warnings had been given that a blitz would take place. The industry must do more to address this problem in order to reduce fatalities and major injuries resulting from falls from height."The figures are as follows: 49% of construction sites visited were served with a Prohibition Notice; - 59% of the sites visited had enforcement action taken by inspectors; - 8% of sites visited had enforcement for inadequate welfare facilities; - 40% of sites visited had falls from height enforcement action; Note this almost mirrors exactly the fatality figure for falls from height which is 44%.

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