TUC calls for more safety checks
October 20, 2004
Workers and the public are being put at risk because there are not enough visits being made by health and safety inspectors, says the TUC.
Two out of five unions safety representatives said their workplace had never been inspected by a health and safety official.
Nor had it been visited by anyone from the local authority environmental health department.
The union says some offices and factories had not been inspected for more than three years.
London is the worst region while central government departments and financial firms are most likely never to be visited by health and safety officials.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Sadly a visit from a safety inspector is still all too rare an occurrence for the overwhelming majority of employers.
"Regular inspections are an ideal way of keeping firms on their toes but, at the current rate, they could wait years for an inspector to call.
"In the meantime, workers and members of the public are being put at risk."
The TUC has called on the Government to allocate extra resources to the Health and Safety Executive and local councils to increase the number of inspections.
This story was first carried on the Ananova website.
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