The union Unite has accused the government of compromising health and safety at work under the guise of “cutting bureaucracy”.
Unite responded to employment minister Chris Grayling’s proposals that could see inspections in Britain’s workplaces slashed by 11 000 annually, with future automatic practice inspections targeted on high-risk sites, such as the nuclear and chemical industries.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “Cutting bureaucracy is the continuing mantra of this coalition, but it could be dangerous rhetoric if it translates into fewer inspections and a subsequent rise in deaths and injuries in factories, on construction sites, on farms and in workplaces across the UK.”
He added: “Health and safety regulations have been developed over decades with the purpose of protecting the 29 million people currently at work in the UK – there can be no compromises on this. Using the argument of cutting bureaucracy should not be used as camouflage for compromising on safety.
”An economic downturn is not the time to cut corners on health and safety. People worried for their jobs must not become worried about the safety at work too.”
Medico-Legal News Source: PostOnline
