Unions respond to H&S proposals

TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber, said: “Employers need to know there is the possibility of a safety inspector visiting, otherwise there will be no incentive for them to ensure they are protecting their workers. Removing proactive inspections from a large number of workplaces means employers can get away with ignoring the law until they kill or seriously injure someone. This is in no-one’s interests and will mean an increase in deaths and injuries, leading to a rush to the bottom as cowboy companies undercut responsible employers by cutting back on safety.”