Unions fear over workers safety after sick' plans on HSE

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Unions’ fear over workers’ safety after “sick” plans to commercialise HSE

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Unions have expressed alarm at proposals for the Health and Safety Executive to pay for itself, rather than rely on funding from Westminster.

The government yesterday published recommendations of the Triennial Review into the HSE, which confirmed the important role it plays in reducing injury and ill health caused by work.

And while unions welcomed the findings that current regulatory regime is fit for purpose, they were concerned about plans to make it more commercial.

UCATT general secretary Steve Murphy said: “The plans for the HSE are disgusting and workers will be sickened by them. The HSE’s role is to protect workers not to generate money. This is simply the government’s latest attack on safety laws and is putting commercial concerns before the lives and safety of workers.

“It would be helpful if government ministers departed from their swivel-eyed mania about selling off the family silver and actually took an interest in the dangers regularly faced by workers.”

Prospect deputy general secretary Garry Graham said: “We’re delighted this review once more confirms the agency is fit for purpose, and benefits workers and employers across the UK.

“We welcome the findings that the HSE’s functions should continue to be delivered by a non-departmental public body, allowing it to retain its independence and his praise for the professionalism and competence of staff.

“However, we’re concerned about the new ‘fee for intervention’ (FFI) model, which links the regulator’s funding to its income from ‘fines’, calling it a ‘dangerous’ model that has potentially damaged the HSE’s reputation for acting impartially and independently.

“FFI was rushed in to fill gaps in HSE’s budget caused by government cuts. Prospect warned that the proposals would be perceived as a business burden and risked damaging the regulatory balance.

“We have been proved right. We strongly back the review’s call to remove the link between funding and fines. It is the wrong solution to funding. HSE has lost experienced inspectors because of the cuts and difficulties caused by FFI.

“We are concerned about calls from DWP minister Mike Penning to go beyond the review’s recommendations to introduce reforms to make the HSE more commercial in its outlook and delivery.

“We warned about fee for intervention and the government didn’t listen. It must not impose further reforms without proper consultation and engagement with stakeholders, including the trade unions. It is vital that workers have a say in any changes to policy and law that affects their lives and livelihoods.”

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “This is the fourth government-commissioned report in recent years to highlight the benefits that the HSE brings to workers across the UK.

“The past few years have been difficult for the HSE given the cuts to funding and reductions in enforcement activity. We hope that the government will now support the HSE in taking forward the review’s recommendations and give it the resources and political backing it so desperately needs.

“The report is supportive of bringing together unions, employers and government to deal with health and safety issues. We are concerned, however, that the government’s implementation of some of its recommendations could undermine this approach. It is important that unions and employers continue to play an equal role in the way the HSE operates.

“There was huge support from all those who responded to the review for the work of the HSE as a public body. We believe that, given the scale of injury and illness across UK workplaces, the government should not undermine the ability of the HSE to meet that challenge.”

[Groundpounder]

Oh God another wonderful plan from the Government .Every time this lot do any thing I get depressed .I suppose the idea is kill a few off with dodgy equipment and then claim you reduced unemployment again.