Tory plan for safety on building sites could lead to more deaths says Unite
October 26th 2009 New plans by the Conservative party to allow construction companies to arrange their own externally audited safety inspections, and ban Health and Safety Executive inspectors from their sites, could lead to a worsening of health and safety and an increase in building site deaths according to the union Unite.
Shadow business secretary Ken Clarke's announcement to cut ‘red tape’ for business says the Tories plan to “curb the powers of intrusive inspectors by allowing firms to arrange their own, externally audited inspections and, providing they pass, to refuse entry to official inspectors thereafter”.
Unite, which represents construction workers, warns the move could mean the already unacceptable death rates in the sector would increase further if firms did not have to be accountable to the independent Health and Safety Executive. Unite is concerned that externally audited inspections will not have proper ‘enforcement powers’.
Commenting on the announcement Unite national officer for construction, Bob Blackman, said: "Ensuring high standards of health and safety on construction sites comes with a cost. The Tories should be focusing on preventing accidents and deaths rather than looking at ways of saving money for the employers.
"The HSE is not perfect, but at least it is trusted by the workforce and carries 'enforcement powers'. Enforcement and prohibition powers are vital if the industry is not to see fatalities and serious accidents increasing.
"This announcement goes to show the Tories' true colours. They are the party of the bosses and by cutting 'red tape' for employers they will be putting the lives and health of construction workers at risk."
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