Perilous Consequences Of Swingeing Cuts

That was the headline introducing a letter of protest in the on-line version of the Scotsman newspaper published in the week that it was announced that the HSE will suffer a massive 35% cut in its budget.

The letter signed by several luminaries in the health and safety world, including Hazards Professor Rory O'Neill, was published following the reports in the Scotsman of the Con-Dem(ned) Government knife wielding to public services.

The letter makes for chilling reading, warning of real damage to Scotland’s workforce along with the rest of the UK:

“The Westminster government contribution to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is to be cut by 35 per cent over the next four years.

The £1 billion to be slashed from public spending in Scotland will amplify that effect. It is likely to mean a massive cut in enforcement activity across all sectors (except major hazards where there is cost recovery).

It will also mean a major fall in other activities such as campaigning work, research and guidance. Scotland already has what to many looks like a skeleton HSE. These cuts will make the task of protecting some 2.4 million Scottish workers impossible.

Injured and sick workers will see benefits withdrawn or squeezed, greatly increasing poverty and related ill-health. Instead of support, they will be ordered to find work they are not fit to do in jobs that do not exist.”

It goes on to say:

“ This means the Scottish NHS and social services will pick up the bill for those damaged, the Scottish economy will be diminished by the loss of productive employees and the Scottish taxpayer will again be subsidising dangerous employers and workplaces.”

You can read the full letter in detail here

Source: TUC Risks / Scotsman

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