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03-Jul-08 14:15 [Pay and Reward]
UCATT criticises constrction safety The UK's Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT), has criticised the government for not properly enforcing health and safety regulations in the workplace.
It asserts that voluntary guidance set out by the government is only adhered to by 44 per cent of companies and feels the government should introduce statutory directors' duties.
The union believes that self-regulation does not work in the industry and states that it is "highly disappointed" by the government's rejection of recommendations for that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) should increase the level of inspections.
"By talking about the importance of giving 'advice and guidance' ministers and HSE's chiefs, give the impression that they think it is more important to stuff educational material into envelopes than inspect sites," stated Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT.
The union added that the number of "frontline" safety inspectors has continued to fall, with the number standing at 134.
UCATT concluded by saying that if the government does not increase the HSE's budget to provide it with more resources, more lives will be "needlessly" lost at work.
At the end of June, UCATT obtained pay-slips from migrant workers who were employed at a PFI hospital that showed they were receiving £8.80 after working a 49-hour week, the BBC since reported that the issue had been resolved.
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