The TUC has warned the Government against meeting demands by business for the reduction of health and safety related "red tape" after revelations in a report from the union body showed that at least 20,000 people - the equivalent of the entire Orkney Islands population - die early each year. This is because of their working conditions which result in occupational cancers and lung disorders, fatal car accidents as well as exposure to fumes and chemicals.
Findings in the report show that many workers are also injured in the course of their work, pointing to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that while 246,000 injuries in the workplace should have been reported last year, many workplace accidents were not reported correctly and some injuries not at all.
The Case for Health and Safety report revealed that 1.2 million workers in the UK believe that they suffer from an illness relating to their work. These include stress, heart disease, musculoskeletal disorders such as shoulder, neck and back pain and mental health issues including depression and anxiety.
Claims that the current workplace environment is much safer than ever before, which had led to calls from business groups for health and safety regulations or "red tape" to be reduced, have now been disputed by this report.
The TUC has called on the Government to: ignore calls from the business lobby for the reduction of regulation and enforcement; champion this issue and appoint a Government "tsar" for health and safety; use the UK network of 150, 000 union health and safety representatives to greater effect; and support the work of the HSE and local authorities in protecting people at work.
Brendan Barber general secretary of the TUC spoke about workplace accidents explaining: "Despite the way that health and safety is often pilloried, for those who are made ill or injured at work and for the relatives of those who have died as a result of their work, health and safety is no joke.
"Regulation works, as long as it is enforced, and it saves lives and prevents the contraction of unnecessary illnesses. That is why the UK continues to need strong regulation and enforcement. Every one of the 20,000 annual workplace-related deaths could have been prevented, and if the level of HSE and local authority funding is cut, the effects will be even more catastrophic.
"Fatalities are not just statistics - they are real people, with lives and families - and any fall in inspections and enforcement will lead to an increase in accidents, injuries and deaths, and will have a huge impact on the already grave problem of workplace diseases.
Findings in the report show that many workers are also injured in the course of their work, pointing to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that while 246,000 injuries in the workplace should have been reported last year, many workplace accidents were not reported correctly and some injuries not at all.
The Case for Health and Safety report revealed that 1.2 million workers in the UK believe that they suffer from an illness relating to their work. These include stress, heart disease, musculoskeletal disorders such as shoulder, neck and back pain and mental health issues including depression and anxiety.
Claims that the current workplace environment is much safer than ever before, which had led to calls from business groups for health and safety regulations or "red tape" to be reduced, have now been disputed by this report.
The TUC has called on the Government to: ignore calls from the business lobby for the reduction of regulation and enforcement; champion this issue and appoint a Government "tsar" for health and safety; use the UK network of 150, 000 union health and safety representatives to greater effect; and support the work of the HSE and local authorities in protecting people at work.
Brendan Barber general secretary of the TUC spoke about workplace accidents explaining: "Despite the way that health and safety is often pilloried, for those who are made ill or injured at work and for the relatives of those who have died as a result of their work, health and safety is no joke.
"Regulation works, as long as it is enforced, and it saves lives and prevents the contraction of unnecessary illnesses. That is why the UK continues to need strong regulation and enforcement. Every one of the 20,000 annual workplace-related deaths could have been prevented, and if the level of HSE and local authority funding is cut, the effects will be even more catastrophic.
"Fatalities are not just statistics - they are real people, with lives and families - and any fall in inspections and enforcement will lead to an increase in accidents, injuries and deaths, and will have a huge impact on the already grave problem of workplace diseases.
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