Union tells Con-Dems not to cut safety inspections

The coalition government has already announced plans to cut around 25 per cent of the budget of all government departments including the Health and Safety Executive, which campaigners argue is already drastically under-resourced.

In the run-up to the elections the Tories pledged to deregulate safety inspections and allow preferred firms to hire their own inspectors.

A review of health and safety legislation is being conducted by Lord Young and, while his findings have not yet been published, the language in which it has been couched has led to fears he will recommend deregulation.

Construction union Ucatt warned of the inherent dangers of deregulation and cuts to health and safety.

The union also called for the urgent implementation of directors' duties and the extension of the Gangmasters Licensing Act to protect the lives of workers.

Both measures were recommended in the Donaghey report into workplace deaths but were not introduced by the previous government.

Ucatt general secretary Alan Ritchie said: "Deregulation and cuts in safety inspections will increase accidents and deaths at work.

"Rather than considering cutting resources the government should be increasing funding to increase the level of inspections, enforcement and prosecutions being undertaken to ensure that companies that violate health and safety laws are punished.

"The introduction of statutory directors' duties and extending the Gangmasters Act to construction will force rogue bosses to stop playing fast and loose with the lives of workers."

The Hazards safety group has launched the We Didn't Vote to Die at Work campaign warning of the threats to workers under the new government.

A spokesman said: "The new coalition government of the Lib Dems and Conservatives severely threatens our health and safety and we will have to fight for our lives over the coming months and years.

"None of the political party manifestos for the general election said much if anything about workers' health and safety.

"But no-one voted for what is happening now, with the ideological assault on the state using 'deficit reduction' as the excuse and massive cuts in jobs, public services, privatisation in schools and hospitals and vicious attacks on benefits."