Workplace Report March 2013

Health & safety news

Inspections make for safer workplaces

Trade unions want to see more inspections of all businesses as it is the most effective way of ensuring compliance with the law. That’s the main message of a TUC bulletin on inspections.

However, the government has made cuts to inspections by the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities in the belief that inspections are a “burden on business”. The TUC expects these cuts to lead to a rise in the number of injuries in those sectors of the economy where inspections are banned.

While unions want the authorities to concentrate their activities on those businesses where inspections will be most effective, no business should be exempt from unannounced inspection, the TUC says.

The bulletin is the first of 10 that flesh out the 10 points in the TUC’s Time for change manifesto. The April issue of Labour Research examines the second bulletin on the case for stronger laws.

www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-21902-f0.cfm