The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has reacted to the latest fatal and major injury statistics for Scotland by highlighting the significant cuts in safety inspectors over the last four years
Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary said: “It is extremely disappointing that these statistics reveal no improvement whatsoever at a time when our Government and the HSE espouses the message that health and safety should be at the cornerstone of any civilised society.
“The sad fact is that yet again 32 families lost loved ones as a result of work related incidents, exactly the same figure as last year and two more than in 2006/07. In addition, very little progress has been made in reducing major injuries in three years.
“Figures released to Hazards Magazine reveal that cuts in HSE frontline inspectors have had a greater impact on Scotland than elsewhere. The number of HSE inspectors has fallen from 182 to 158 since 2004, ironically the same years as the ICL explosion, the worst loss of life in an onshore industrial accident since 22 workers lost their lives in the upholstery factory in James Watt Street 1968.
“If the Government genuinely believes that health and safety is at the cornerstone of our civilised society then we challenge them to forget the deregulatory pleadings of business organisations and resource the HSE to ensure that workplaces are adequately inspected and not wait until death and injury occur before taking action.”
ENDS For further information contact Ian Tasker 0141 337 8100