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August 4, 2014

Union pressures Labour Party to ‘give firm Manifesto commitments’

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is calling on the Labour Party to firm up its position on health and safety at work and to outline its manifesto commitments ahead of next year’s general election.

Representatives from the CWU have presented a proposed health and safety list for the 2015 Labour Party Manifesto, which the union believes would have a huge impact on reducing deaths, injuries and illness if it was implemented.

The CWU’s proposals include: 

all workplaces should be inspected regularly by the enforcing authority;

there should be revised regulations on safety representatives and safety committees to increase coverage and effectiveness;

occupational health should have the same priority as injury prevention;

there should be a new, legally binding dust standard;

exposure to carcinogens in the workplace must be removed;

there should be a legal duty on directors; 

there should be an improved approach to occupational road risk with all ‘at work’ road traffic accidents to be reportable under RIDDOR;

to revise the Mesothelioma Act, extended the compensation arrangements and to introduce further medical research into the disease; 

to introduce new regulations for an approved code of practice to protect outdoor workers from the growing risk of skin cancer as a result of sunlight exposure at work; and 

to introduce protection for ageing workers.

Dave Joyce, CWU’s health, safety and environment national officer, said that the CWU had received fantastic support from Labour MPs who had written to Shadow Health and Safety Minister Stephen Timms MP urging him to support CWU’s campaign.

What do you think about these proposals? Tell us what you think. 

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Heather
Heather
10 years ago

What is the link to read the manifesto in full?