date: 21 April 2008

embargo: immediate release

TUC welcomes DWP report on HSE

Commenting on the DWP Select Committee report on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today (Monday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'We welcome this far-reaching report on the work of the HSE.

'The report contains a number of positive recommendations and the committee endorsed all the key points raised by the TUC in its evidence, including increasing penalties for rogue employers who ignore legislation, and the importance of consultation and involvement of safety representatives.

'We are pleased that the Select Committee has focused on the appalling position of vulnerable migrant workers, who can find themselves at risk due to overtiredness from working long hours, may be denied sick pay so come into work when they are too ill to do so, and can lack the fluent English needed to grasp basic safety procedures at work. We hope that their concerns will be listened to and addressed.

'However, the theme that runs through the report is that the HSE is being asked to do too much with too little. The Government needs to address the very serious resource issues that this report raises.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
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Press release (300 words) issued 21 Apr 2008