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date: 3 June 2009

embargo: For immediate release

TUC welcomes move to make safety materials free

Welcoming the decision by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), announced today (Wednesday) at the launch of its new strategy, that it is to make all of its publications available to download at no cost, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'Union safety representatives need access to the safety guidance and approved codes of practice that the HSE produces in order to deal with problems at work or to challenge their employers when they cut safety corners in the workplace.

'As unpaid volunteers, safety reps often cannot afford to purchase copies of these materials themselves. The TUC has been calling for free access to HSE publications for many years and it was a key point we made in the recent TUC charter for safety reps.

'Unions will be delighted that the HSE has listened to the arguments and agreed that within the next year all priced publications will be accessible in pdf format on its website. This will be a great help to safety representatives in their work with employers to ensure compliance with safety laws and the promotion of good health and safety practice.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (300 words) issued 3 Jun 2009