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Under the proposals aired at the Conservative party conference earlier this month, firms would be able to arrange their own inspections, which would be carried out internally but audited externally, and 鈥渞efuse entry to official inspectors thereafter鈥�. HSE inspectors would only be granted access in 鈥渆mergency鈥� situations.

John Penrose, the shadow business minister, said: 鈥淲e鈥檒l change whatever we need to change. We might be able to adapt current legislation or make it a statutory instrument, but we鈥檙e committed to doing this, and we will change whatever is required.鈥�

Penrose admitted internal inspectors would not have the power to prosecute, but could act as whistleblowers to the HSE if a company was breaching health and safety law. However he insisted it was 鈥渢oo early to say鈥� whether the plans would lead to a reduction in HSE staff.

We might be able to adapt current legislation or make it a statutory instrument

John Penrose

Kizzy Austin, a health and safety lawyer at Pinsent Masons, said legislation would be necessary if the proposals were accepted because the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 allows government inspectors to access any site. 鈥淟ots of changes would have to be made, including all the health and safety guidance and codes of practice,鈥� she said.

The inquiry into construction deaths by Rita Donaghy this year looked at the idea of self-regulation, but concluded it would be a 鈥渞etrograde鈥� step that posed 鈥渦nacceptable risks鈥�.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary, of construction union Ucatt, said the plans were badly thought out and should be 鈥渃onsigned to the wastebasket鈥�.