A third of consulting engineers do not understand their legal responsibilities for site safety. That's according to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
A spokesman for Zurich Municipal said the HSE's findings were "disappointing". The insurer has been campaigning for improved risk management during the construction of local authority buildings.
Inspectors also found consultants were putting contractors at risk by failing to tackle safety at design stage.
The findings were revealed after HSE inspectors completed their investigations into consultants working on projects in the north of England and Scotland.
John Carpenter, secretary of the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS) said: "Many designers feel remote from site action and responsibility. There is also a lack of direction and commitment from senior management."
