- WORKERS’ SAFETY SHOULD NEVER BE SEEN AS “RED TAPE”

Reacting to the Chancellor’s Autumn statement which indicates the Government’s intention to cut back health and safety regulations even further than suggested under the Lofstedt Review, Scotland’s leading personal injury solicitors and health and safety campaigners, Thompsons Solicitors, have warned that their ideological attack on health and safety is dangerous.  

Today’s statement contains a commitment to “accept the recommendations of Professor Lofstedt’s review of health and safety regulation and look to go further as part of the Red Tape Challenge”. 

The firm warned that the review’s recommendation to “remove pressures on business to go beyond what the regulations require” and today’s commitment revealed an irresponsible “race to the bottom” in health and safety.    

Commenting on the statement, partner at Thompsons Solicitors and health and safety campaigner, Patrick McGuire, said:

“Today’s statement makes it absolutely clear that this Government is intent on attacking workers’ safety for ideological reasons – nothing else.  It is dangerous and unacceptable.

“Workers have the right to be safe at work.  In no way should measures that save thousands of workers’ lives ever be seen as “red tape”.

“Strengthening and clarifying health and safety legislation is sensible, but dismantling it for the sake of business is a backwards step.  

“A race to the bottom on health and safety is simply irresponsible.”