That is the claim from Amacus in a press release issued earlier this month.

The latest statistics from the Health and Safety Executive show that enforcement notices and prosecutions have now fallen for the last three years.

Workplace safety inspections in the UK have plummeted to a new low, increasing the chances of workers being killed, made ill or injured by their jobs. While the overall number of injuries and ill health cases at work continue to decline, the enforcement figures suggest this fall could have been much greater if HSE was more effective.

HSE enforcement notices fell from 11,335 in 2003/4, to 8,471 in 2004/5, and now to only 6,383 in 2005/6. Prosecutions have shown a similar decline.

These figures confirm that UK employers are now less likely to be inspected, less likely to be prosecuted, less likely to be convicted of safety crimes, and less likely to receive a notice from an HSE inspector demanding safety improvements.

Tony Dubbins, Deputy General Secretary of Amicus, says "Amicus wants a strong HSE and strong Local Authority Inspectors. We want more inspections and more enforcement. All the evidence shows us that it is the most effective way to stop employers breaking the law.

"We want an effective Corporate Manslaughter Act, and specific health and safety duties on Directors. Unless business leaders feel the heat of the law they will not change their behaviour on health and safety."

Health and Safety Statistics 2005/6

Souce: Amacus News Release