Unions say no 'free passes' on enforcement
13/02/05
Trade Unions through the TUC have reiterated concern that a government plan to reel in red tape must not result in it going soft on workplace safety. The government plans, which apply to all areas of official regulation and enforcement, were outlined by Gordon Brown in December 2004 when he said 'the regulatory focus should be on advice not inspection.' The chancellor?s statement came as he published the Philip Hampton?s interim report into regulation.
A new TUC briefing, ?Reducing administrative burdens: effective inspection and enforcement? is critical of the business lobby for overplaying potential burdens while downplaying the benefits of regulation, with asbestos and working time regulations given as clear examples. The report says TUC agrees with risk assessment to ensure resources are well targeted, but adds 'we would be reluctant to give businesses a ?free pass? on the basis of a positive risk profile, and would not accept the elimination of routine inspection for lower risk organisations. Unions? experience of health and safety is that businesses that believe they will not be inspected ease up on health and safety. This is not necessarily a matter of policy, it can be an entirely unconscious process, but the knowledge that one could be inspected does encourage vigilance.' It adds: 'The TUC?s approach to penalties has been formed by experience of health and safety. In our view, if someone is killed, injured, made ill or put at serious risk at work there should be penalties for those responsible. Safety penalties both punish those who show a criminal disregard for workers? health and safety and are a deterrent message to employers.'
TUC Briefing
Treasury webpage on the Hampton report.
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