TUC Warns - Don't Base Policy On Myths And Preconceptions

Safety standards at work could be sacrificed if the government implements Lord Young's recommendations on reform of the UK health and safety system, the TUC has warned.

Commenting on the David Cameron-commissioned review of health and safety, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said:

"The review's recommendations are predictable but a grave disappointment all the same. The report contains not a single proposal that will reduce the high levels of workplace death, injuries and illness. Every year in the UK over 20,000 people die prematurely as a result of their work and at any one time over two million people are suffering ill-health because of their jobs."

He added:

"Yet instead of looking for ways of preventing people being killed and injured, the report uncritically accepts the myths and preconceptions surrounding health and safety, and focuses on dealing with a compensation culture which the government accepts does not exist. Health and safety is not a throwback to a previous century, or an issue that only affects heavy industry. It is just as much an issue for offices and shops - workplaces that Lord Young dismisses as 'low risk', despite the evidence of high levels of work-related ill-health in these sectors."

Mr Barber said the report 'is a missed opportunity to improve the UK's workplace safety record and by failing to challenge the myths around health and safety it could actually make things much worse.'

The call for accidents to be reportable after more than seven days rather than the current three days plus "does not meet the minimum legal requirements accepted across the European Union", commented TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson.

Source: TUC

Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services