Labour Research October 2001

Health & Safety Matters

COUNCILS WARNED ON SAFETY

The Health and Safety Commission has threatened to conduct an inquiry into any local authority where cuts in resources for health and safety enforcement prejudices the achievement of the governments' health and safety targets.

Bill Callaghan, chair of the Commission is concerned over the decline in resources being devoted to health and safety enforcement. Last year the number of full-time equivalent council enforcement officers fell for the third consecutive year.