Health and Safety Executive - The case for more funding.
HSE is one of the most highly
regarded bodies amongst employers, employees, and members of the public.
It is internationally respected for its expertise
It produces advice and guidance, quality research and a first class forensic
capability.
They have experts in engineering, nuclear safety, occupational health etc - But
many
of these specialist skills are facing severe shortage as HSE is unable to
recruit at
market levels and can no longer afford to maintain its expertise.
HSE's budget has been cut considerably since 2002. The 2004 spending
review settlement has meant that huge cuts are having to be made to stay within
budget.
The latest cuts announced in August mean a further 250-350 posts will be lost by
2008.
Using very conservative estimates, eleven times as many people are killed at
work, or
by their work than through acts of homicide.
Around 85% of major injuries reported to HSE are never investigated (and there
are
known to be a large number that never get reported). There is only so
much that the inspectors in HSE's Field Operation Directorate (FOD) can achieve.
This means that
very serious career-ending accidents go unpunished simply
because there is no one
to gather the evidence.
There is much in the press about how we as a society, are risk averse.
That health and safety stifles innovation. We are actually very risk
tolerant. This tolerance accepts every year 340 FATAL workplace injuries.
Between 10 and 20,000 deaths from occupational diseases.
1000 deaths on the road of people at work.
39,000 MAJOR injuries and 200,000 other injuries keeping people off work for
more than
3 days.
HSE has a massive job to do, yet receives about as much public funding as the
Avon and Somerset Police Authority. The argument being that the HSE as no
monopoly over saving lives and expenditure has to be balanced between
departments who also have a claim. The difference though, is that lives
are being lost through injuries and ill health inflicted on employees due to
unpunished criminal acts.
Figures for inspector numbers can be misleading. The official line is that
there were 1,500 in 2005. Many of these however do no inspection, being in
policy or management roles - the true number of front line inspectors is 900.
There are more traffic wardens in London than there are inspectors in the whole
of HSE's Field Operation Directorate.
With so few staff the HSE's chance of properly regulating the 2012 Olympic
development seems remote or only achievable by taking its eye of the ball
elsewhere. With world attention focused on Britain it is vital that we
project the right image.
New money must be found to provide adequate regulations to stop these games
being built on the suffering of those building and delivering them.
The Olympics cannot be worth a single life.
Unity is supporting the HSE's campaign for more resources ; please add
your voice by sending the following letter to your MP.
Click to
Download Letter - Microsoft Word Format
The full briefing is available on the TUC website
Please note - Text of the above letter is :
Dear ___________________________
Ref: Cuts to the Health and Safety Executive's Budget.
I am a union representative/employee* at ____________________________ which is
located in your constituency/and live in your constituency*.
The TUC has issued a briefing highlighting the implications of cuts in HSE's
budget.
I am very concerned that between 250-350 posts are to be lost by 2008, and that
there could be further cuts following the forthcoming spending review.
There is already a dangerously low level of regulation of workplace health and
safety,
from years of under investment in the HSe, and I am worried that these future
cuts will
put health and safety of employees and the public at risk.
I would be grateful if you would take up this matter and press the government to
intervene and remove the financial pressure on the Health and Safety Executive.
Yours Sincerely
* select appropriate text.