Unite urges government – protect workers, implement safety report in full

21 April 2008

Following the report out today (Monday, April 21, 2008) from the influential Select Committee on Work and Pensions into health and safety regulation in the UK, Unite the union is urging government to do more to protect workers' safety and implement the recommendations in full.

Among the committee's conclusions were that under-resourcing and a lack of inspectors are undermining enforcement the law, that the fine regime is too low and offers little deterrent, and that a business is likely to face an inspection visit only once in every 14.5 years.

"This report should be seen as a state of the nation report into the health and safety regime in the UK. We welcome its conclusions and urge the government to accept the report in full, and act as a matter of urgency to deliver the health and safety protections that UK workers deserve. 

"A toothless Health and Safety Executive has been starved of resources and the power to penalise those who disregard the safety of workers and the public. It is struggling to cope with the changing world of work and is allowing the rogues to evade the law too easily," said Unite's national health and safety officer Bud Hudspith.

"Workers are paying the price in deaths, injuries and disease at work, and we are especially concerned about the safety risks faced today by construction, offshore and migrant workers. 

"The HSE needs more inspectors but there must also be a step-change in enforcement with legally binding health and safety duties on company directors and senior managers. Only then will many companies take health and safety seriously and genuine efforts be made to reduce deaths, injuries and disease at work."

Unite gave evidence to the Committee, including recommendations on more resources for the HSE, heavier and more imaginative penalties for breaches of the law, safety duties on directors, more inspectors, support for trade-union appointed safety representatives and greater protection for migrant workers.