Health and safety ‘a fundamental right’

Occupational health and safety must be recognised as a fundamental right, the ITUC international trade union confederation general secretary Sharan Burrow told those gathered at the annual safety campaign group Hazards conference at the end of July.

Both she and TUC national health and safety policy officer Shelly Asquith also highlighted the impact of the climate crisis on workers’ health and safety.

More than 300 union reps and safety activists signed up to the online conference to hear a powerful global line-up of speakers. They included New Zealand Council of Trade Unions president Richard Wagstaff who reported on the health and safety lessons learned from the country’s approach to Covid-19.

Wales TUC general secretary Shavanah Taj set out the seven key tests unions demanded as the Wales government lifted Covid restrictions, after only one in four workers reported that their bosses have complied with Covid regulations.

And Middlesex University professor Phil James said that by 5 July 2021, the Health and Safety Executive had conducted 275,000 Covid spot checks, but nearly 100,000 were carried out by “unwarranted” partner organisations. Only around 7,500 were carried out by warranted inspectors.

The conference also heard powerful testimonies from from Families Against Corporate Killers campaigners who called for tougher enforcement and penalties to prevent more work-related deaths.