End Attacks On Workplace Health And Safety Protection Now!

As previously reported by this website, a National Health & Safety lobby of Parliament takes place on 11th June 2013, organised by the London Hazards Centre and Construction Safety Campaign under the banner of "End attacks on workplace health and safety".

There will be a march to the House of Commons from Trafalgar Square: assemble 11am, followed by a meeting to be held in the House of Commons from 1pm to 3pm in Committee Room 14.

Last year the Prime Minister David Cameron said his New Year’s resolution was to “kill off the health and safety culture for good” calling it an albatross around the neck of British business. The Government have denigrated health and safety and rolled out deregulation of vital laws at top speed.

• They have cut the budget of the Health and Safety Executive reducing the number of independent inspections of workplaces and the numbers of prosecutions for breaking the law.
  


• Abolished the Crane Registration Regulations and Head Protection Regulations.
  


• Intend to replace the Approved Code of Practice of the Management of Health and  Safety Regs replacing it with guidance.
  
  
• Removed section 47 of the Health and Safety at Work Act reducing employers liability for breach of statutory duty.
  
  
• Propose to stop some self-employed from being covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act.
  


• A Mesothelioma Bill to ensure victims receive payments where no liable employer or insurer can be traced, first promised by the Labour government, will not cover all those dying from asbestos related lung cancer and other occupational diseases.
  


• They have ignored all arguments that good safety provision acts to prevent serious injuries, disability, disease and saves lives. They are just not bothered.

          

The position of New Labour must change as no major opposition has come from them., and in too many cases Labour has acted to support these attacks.

          

Don't forget that under the last Labour Government, the HSE was slashed of resources due to loss of staff caused by budget cuts.

Labour must support our demands in parliament and they must become part of any election policy. If elected they must reverse the damage done by the coalition government, rescind the attacks and instead strengthen health protections for workers and their families. 

          

Many British companies make huge profits from clothing produced in Bangladesh where lack of safety regulation has killed over 1,100 workers in the recent Dhaka Plaza Rana factory collapse. Governments cannot stand idly by and we must support the demands of the Bangladeshi trades unions. We must force the UK government to withdraw from all their attacks on health and safety.

          

Source: London Hazards Centre / Unionsafety

          

See also: FACK's Linda Whelan To Address MPs On Construction Workers Parliamentary Lobby

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