THE Health and Safety Executive is currently running an initiative across County Durham to highlight important safety issues relevant to property developers.

Our research has shown that many people developing property as a business, especially the smaller developers, do not realise they have legal responsibilities for health and safety.

Whether you think of yourself as a property investor, developer or renovator, everyone has a role to play in helping reduce the number of serious and fatal incidents in the construction industry.

I would urge readers to visit hse.gov.uk/property – or call the HSE InfoLine on 0845-345-0055 – to find out more about the various responsibilities property developers have.

Rob Hirst, HM Inspector of Health and Safety, Newcastle.