The following has been supplied by the TUC:
The prime minister continues to make damaging policy about health and safety at work based on a business wish list and not the 'massive costs and burdens on families of people killed by negligence', Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK) has said. The campaign group, formed by relatives bereaved in tragedies at work, was commenting after a 14 February Downing Street summit hosted by David Cameron saw industry and insurance lobby groups invited, but no workers' groups or victims' organisations. FACK spokesperson Hilda Palmer commented: 'The prime minister and whole government continue to ignore us, the families of people killed at work because of far too little health and safety regulation, backed up by inadequate, toothless enforcement.' She added: 'The contempt shown to us, the victims of poor regulation and lax enforcement and business criminality, is quite disgusting, but very much in line with this government's utter contempt for ordinary people. The government is racing ahead to cut the lifelines for workers, based not on evidence or fact, but on the myths, lies and fairy tales peddled by their moneyed business friends.' According to FACK, the government is removing health and safety protection and 'allowing business to get away with as much as possible.' Ministers have held a series of workplace safety related meetings with insurance and business lobby groups. But repeated requests from FACK for a meeting have been declined. FACK's Hilda Palmer said: 'Cameron failed to reply to a letter we sent him expressing concern at his new year's resolution to 'kill off health and safety culture?' yet holds a summit with the insurance companies and only hears the side of the story he wants to.'
