The Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Britain has called for action over what it has described as 'anti-regulation' from the coalition government on health and safety issues.
The congress cites two inquiries that have been set up by the government with the purpose of trying to reduce regulation that protects workers, as well as the Red Tape Challenge, which describes laissez-faire moves by the government to remove regulation that may be a burden on business.
The rhetoric comes in the build-up to Workers' Memorial Day, which is held on April 28th, which will be used to stage discontent over the UK government's move to cut back health and safety regulation to the bare minimum that is required by European Union safety directives.
The campaign group will ask that there is no reduction in the legal protection for workers on health and safety. It will also call for harsher penalties for those that break the law in order to achieve greater accountability where risk is concerned. Inspections are asked to be mandatory, and there should be more action to prevent occupational disease, according to the TUC.
Occupational disease can include anything from occupational deafness, white finger or carpal tunnel syndrome, asbestos-related illnesses, repetitive strain injury or asthma. All of which have a serious impact on personal lives.
Posted by Claire Manning