Barber: "We must do far more to reduce the terrible toll from occupational diseases"
Politicians and the press have been urged to focus on preventing workplace deaths rather than talking about health and safety regulations being a burden.
Commenting on the latest figures for workplace deaths published by the Health and Safety Executive, which show that 151 people died at work between 1st April 2009 and 31st March 2010, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber welcomed the fall in the number of fatalities at work. He, however, pointed out that the fall is mainly the result of far fewer people entering the workplace during the recession.
"Every single one of these deaths is a tragedy for the family that has been left behind and we owe it to them to make sure that we stop these events happening to others,” Mr. Barber said.
He warned politicians and the press against talking about health and safety regulations as a burden.
“None of these deaths were a result of over-regulation or risk aversion. In most cases they were caused by basic health and safety precautions not being taken.
"We must remember that these 151 deaths are less than one per cent of the number of premature deaths caused by work. We must do far more to reduce the terrible toll from occupational diseases such as cancers."
