Plant hire association chief warns of disruption over EC directive

The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) has issued a warning about the disruption a proposed European Commission directive could have on the UK’s construction industry.

Speaking after a recent European Confederation of Equipment Distributors conference in Lisbon, Colin Wood, director and chief executive of the CPA said, health and safety standards across all industries could be thrown into disarray if the proposed Bolkestein directive gains approval.

The Directive puts forward the principle of the country of origin. This would entail services only being subjected to the national provisions of the country of origin, and not to the laws of the nation where the services are provided.

According to Wood this is potentially damaging and would lower health and safety standards instead of raising them.

“Basically this is nonsense legislation as we’d be working to the lowest common denominator. Safety standards would be set by countries which have recently joined the EU,” said Wood.  He said the CPA would resist the legislation, as it would make construction sites less safe.

Wood believes most European employers and unions are against the law.

A Health & Safety Executive spokesperson said the directive would have to be watered down, as in its present format it is unacceptable.