Health and safety 'key' to the workplace, finds new research

11:28:00 Wednesday 8th September 2010

New research has revealed the importance of health and safety in the workplace after it was found that 246,000 workplace injuries took place last year, many of which went unreported.

The report from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said that more than 20,000 people were killed prematurely by their work each year, some suffering fatal accidents at work, while others die early as a result of inhaling harmful chemicals or fumes, or suffering heart attacks due to work stress.

Union leaders have claimed that an estimated 1.2 million people across the country are currently suffering from work-related illnesses.

The TUC has called for the government to appoint a health and safety 'tsar' to help prevent deaths caused by issues such as occupational cancers, exposure to fumes and road accidents.
The government is currently reviewing H&S laws after business owners demanded the reduction of H&S regulations.

But, this TUC report shows that legislation should not be reduced, claiming that Britain was far from the safest country to work in.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said, “Despite the way that health and safety is often pilloried, for those who are made ill or injured at 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,” he added.

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