The row over working conditions on the site of the new British Telecom complex escalated this week - with fresh allegations about safety standards.

Contractors returned to work at the Brentwood development, in London Road on Tuesday to face a picket line mounted by the London Joint Sites Committee.

This collection of shop stewards, safety representatives and union activists campaigns on working conditions throughout the building industry.

They stepped up their protest after last week's claim that a representative of building workers' union UCATT was sacked because he called for safety improvements.

Developer Schal said he was no longer required because the sub-contractor which hired him had finished its work.

But this week the Joint Sites Committee made further charges about safety on the £50million project, which employs 250 men.

The committee alleges that there have been six Health and safety incidents in the last few months.

These included a workmen said to have broken his arm because of lifted flooring within the building, two examples of plant vehicles turning over, a mobile crane that slid down a bank and a dumper truck that drove into a 6ft trench because, it is alleged, there were no stop boards.

This is in addition to the case of an 18-year-old glazier, who had a narrow escape after falling from a walkway, which first sparked safety fears.

The committee is also unhappy about the condition of the site lavatories provided by Schal, and say there are only three urinals on site.

A committee spokesman said: "There should be at least nine lavatories.

''Half the cubicles don't have a lock and most of the seats are broken. At least once a week there is a blockage.''

The committee says that a four-page safety report and a petition signed by 150 men has been given to the Schal management. And they have also protested to Health and Safety inspector Ian Lambie.

A leaflet handed out by Tuesday's picket of about 40 activists called for better toilet facilities and the reinstatement of a safety rep.

The committee spokesman said that the project was behind schedule. The original completion date of May 17 had been put back to September.

Although some of its members joined the picket, UCATT said it did not organise it. UCATT Brentwood spokesman Ronnie McKay said: ''I share their concerns about safety on the site. There have been a number of potentially fatal accidents.

''I am speaking to the company about the situation, but we are obviously very concerned and very angry that the safety rep has been treated like this.''

A Health and Safety Executive spokesman confirmed that it had received several reports of accidents on the site and investigations into the two most serious ones were ongoing.

A spokesman for Schal said: "The welfare facilities provided by Schal, which are designed to cater for more than the current workforce on the project, are regularly inspected and cleaned.

"The HSE and UCATT have inspected the facilities and found them satisfactory. All contractors on the project have been consulted and confirmed that they are happy with the state of the facilities.

"We welcome feedback on health and safety and welfare issues and encourage this as part of the induction process."

PICKET POWER: Members of London Joint Sites Committee protest about Brentwood's new BT complex in London Road.

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