USDAW slams cuts in food safety inspections

Usdaw shopworkers' union has criticised plans by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to scrap one of its two inspectors responsible for national safety policies in the food and agriculture sector.

In a letter to the HSE, USDAW national officer Bill Snell said: "This is a very short-sighted decision, especially when the two inspectors have played key roles in reducing accidents in the food sector by 37%. The two inspectors have been central in achieving twice the national average level of safety improvement in industry as a whole for our food manufacturing members."

The HSE has tried to justify the move by claiming that injuries have fallen in recent years. But USDAW points out that, according to the HSE's own figures, the rate of major injuries in food manufacturing remained at least double the national average in 2005-06, with agriculture also having an above-average rate.

"We still have a long way to go in making the sector safer," said Snell. "USDAW understands that the HSE faces a budget crisis, but it is vital that successful initiatives continue to develop so frontline inspectors know what to target when inspecting food factories."