TUC CLAIM 80% OF CONSTRUCTION SITES UNREGULATED
Survey reveals construction at bottom of HSE inspection list
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has revealed that “nearly half of UK workplaces have never had a health and safety inspection”, including more than 80% of construction workplaces. The findings come from a new TUC Survey of workplace health and safety representatives.
Manufacturing is said to be the only sector in which a majority (57%) of safety reps said there had been an inspection during the past year. By comparison in the construction industry one in six (17%) of reps was aware of an inspection in the last year.
Nearly one in two (46%) respondents said that as far as they know their workplace has never had an inspection by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Just one in four reps (24%) reported an inspection within the last 12 months.
The TUC also claim that workplaces with dedicated health and safety reps are usually those larger workplaces where there are greater risks to workers.
Appalled at construction sector findings
The TUC is also concerned that by 2019/20 government funding of the HSE will have been reduced by nearly half and that in recent years, local councils have reduced workplace inspections by 97%.
The government it says has also restricted the ability of workers to claim compensation if they are injured or made ill at work following employer negligence.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:
“It’s deeply worrying that nearly half of health and safety reps say their workplace has never been inspected by the HSE.
And I am appalled that 80% of reps in construction say their workplaces haven’t been inspected. Construction workplaces can be some of the most dangerous places to work.
Huge cuts to the HSE and to local authorities continue to undermine vital safety protections at work. That means more workers at risk of accidents in unsafe workplaces every day. It’s time to fund the HSE properly and make sure bosses know that they can’t get away with chancing workers’ lives in dangerous workplaces.”
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