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Construction union UCATT issue warning over planned HSE cuts
UCATT has issued an alert concerning HSE plans to close its Infoline and move to restricting the reporting of certain accidents and dangerous incidents to online only.
The union is concerned that in order for workers to be able to report dangerous working practices without the fear of reprisals or victimisation, there needs to be an easily accessible method to ensure that concerns about a dangerous issue can be raised in the knowledge that a worker cannot be identified.
UCATT has written to Judith Hackitt the Chair of the HSE, expressing their concerns about this matter and requesting that “the decision to end the ability of workers to contact the HSE by phone about workplace safety issues is reversed”.
George Guy, Acting General Secretary of UCATT, said:
“Workers hardly ever see an HSE inspector, unless an accident has occurred. If there are dangerous working practices or a dangerous incident occurs it is essential that workers know how to contact the HSE and know that the information they have supplied will be treated with complete confidence.”
Given the cuts in inspections that the Government has already announced, it would be logical for the HSE to be making it easier for workers to contact them to report their concerns.
The HSE should be better publicising the Infoline number not cutting the service. By increasing the difficulty of reporting workplace dangers, they are risking the safety of workers.”