The minister was speaking at the launch of the new Construction (Design and Management) regulations (CDM 2007) in London.

The new Regulations have been developed through a partnership between the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the construction industry. The HSE said it expects to see a “step change improvement” in health and safety performance.

Lord McKenzie said: “Construction is a boom industry, contributing around £256bn per year by turnover to the UK economy and employing over two million people in around 250,000 firms. However, the industry remains undeniably dangerous and all too often demonstrates the unacceptable human cost of getting things wrong.

"CDM 2007 is the result of the continuation of a successful partnership between the HSE and the construction industry which has proved so beneficial in developing a set of regulations based on sensible risk management and practical application. I urge the industry to play its part in ensuring the principles behind these Regulations are widely and effectively promulgated, and put into practice. This will bring both health and safety and business benefits to all concerned."