Unite calls on new HSE chief exec to ensure more is done to protect workers
Unite, the UK's largest union, is looking forward to working with the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) newly appointed chief executive Dr Richard Judge to make UK workplaces healthier and safer.
Unite calls on Dr Judge to reverse the recent trend of removing Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP) and the cut in guidance on health and safety at work.
Furthermore, he must ensure the full involvement of workers and their representatives in developing ACOPs and to tackle the under reporting of accidents and ill health by employers. This must include addressing the widespread manipulation of data to suggest that some companies are performing better on health and safety than they actually are.
Unite national health and safety adviser Bud Hudspith said:
“We welcome the fact that the government has at last appointed a new chief executive for the HSE. Hopefully this will end the decision making paralysis at the top of the HSE.
“Unite looks forward to working with Richard Judge to improve the safety and health of Unite members at work, and to achieve full and accurate accident reporting.
“We have been urging HSE to act against employers who fail to report workplace accidents, but it has not been willing to do so. This is why we are calling on Dr Judge to act as chief executive and ensure more is done to protect workers.”
