Union calls on regulators to publish visit records

The Unite general union has called on regulators, including the HSE, local authorities and public health bodies, to publish records about whether inspectors have spoken to union reps during workplace visits. The call came after a health and safety-focused, UK and Ireland-wide survey of 1,400 Unite reps found inspectors are not routinely speaking to reps even though this is “vital to gaining an accurate picture of health and safety on sites”.

Only a third of respondents whose workplaces had been visited reported that inspectors had spoken to reps during the visit. When the union has previously raised the “potentially dangerous” issue with regulators, it says they have insisted this is done as a matter of course.

“Unite has raised this issue before with all the relevant regulators and health authorities, but it is clear it is not being addressed,” said Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail.