UK: Government urged to prevent ‘watering down’ of health and safety rights

Government action is key to health and safety.

Government urged to prevent ‘watering down’ of health and safety rights

The UK Government has been urged to ensure worker health and safety rights are not “watered down”.

The warning comes from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) in a letter to Government ministers in which it sets out a series of recommendations which it believes can help “unlock Britain’s potential”.

It has since been announced that the Government plans to widen exemptions for businesses from certain regulations and reporting requirements.

In the letter, IOSH highlights the “landmark decision” taken by the International Labour Organization (ILO) this June to include ‘a safe and healthy working environment’ among its fundamental principles and rights at work. IOSH calls for action to ensure the UK respects and promotes the right so the benefits of this decision can be realised and, importantly, that the UK continues to demonstrate commitment, positive action and continual improvement toward workers’ health and safety.

The letters, jointly signed by IOSH Chief Executive Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher and Head of Health and Safety Ruth Wilkinson, say: “We must all take action. This must be universally recognised, inspiring us to renew and act on our shared responsibility to tackle poor working conditions, ill treatment at work and poor health and safety practice.

Government urged to prevent ‘watering down’ of health and safety rights

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