The CWU Healththat as a result of announced government spending restrictions in the safety body, the HSE is planning to cut its already thin inspector force by up to 350 – a cut of 25%.
The general view of Trade Unions is that there is already a dangerously low level of Inspectors and Inspections, from years of under-investment in the HSE, and cutting inspectors further will only worsen the already precarious state of safety policing in Great Britain.
Prospect, the union representing HSE Inspectors,informed other Unions and the TUC that in a notice issued to staff, HSE chief executive Geoffrey Podger said the move to reduce the total number of staff by between 250 and 350 posts by 2008 and cut programme spend was necessary to remain in budget.
This proposed Inspectors Job cuts flies in the face of all the evidence about the effectiveness of inspections in keeping employers in check. In 2004 the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee investigated the operation of the HSE and, after assessing comprehensive evidence, argued that, “the number of inspectors in HSE's Field Operations Directorate should be doubled over the next 6-7 years” and that “substantial additional resources are needed in the next three years.”
This figure was recently echoed by IOSH (Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Europe's leading body for health and safety professionals) President Neil Budworth, who said "IOSH would like to see something like a doubling of the number of inspectors out there on the streets”.
Last month the Union's National Health Safety & Environment Officer Dave Joyce met the HSE's Head of Utilities & Engineering Group to discuss the ongoing three year programme of HSE and LA Inspections of Royal Mail Workplaces and to discuss the new LOPP (Large Organisations Project Pilot) Scheme engagement Plan which the Union is very keen to take forward and not see it curtailed or undermined in any way with possible cuts impacting on the frontline staff in the Field Operations Division (FOD) which provides the Inspectors out on the Street.
Dave Joyce said "Our view is that the best way to prevent problems reoccurring is by learning from the mistakes of the past, and more importantly ensuring safety procedures are robust and are followed. The only way to do this is effectively is with the support of regular inspections and investigations by the HSE, supporting Trade Unions and their Safety Representatives in their efforts to maintain safe and healthy workplaces. Good employers work closely with Trade Unions and Safety Reps within agreed structures to maintain legal compliance but the facts show that many employers will only operate safely if they know failure to do so will be discovered and that firm action will be taken against them."
The Union has raised the matter with Health and Safety Minister Lord Hunt requesting that he intervenes so as to ensure the removal of the financial pressure on the HSE and to seriously consider the Work and Pensions Select Committee recommendation on HSE funding.
