Politicians have been urged to quit 'distorting
perceptions' of workplace health and safety - or risk lives. At the start of
the political party conference season last week, the Institution of Occupational
Safety and Health (IOSH) called for a shift in the way the 'political elite'
talk about protecting people at work. The safety professionals' body said the
toll of deaths, diseases and injuries related to work was 'too high', and
'government should do more to drive them down.' Prime Minister David Cameron
and business secretary Vince Cable are among Conservative and LibDem ministers
that have railed against safety 'burdens' this year, and responded with
deregulatory measures. IOSH head of policy and public affairs Richard Jones
said: 'Government should champion the benefits of good health and safety
regulation, instead of dismissing it as a 'burden' on business. IOSH supports
streamlining and simplification, but not the lowering of standards. Good health
and safety saves lives, supports business and sustains the economy.' He added:
'We hope people will get the message. Playing to the gallery and distorting the
perception of health and safety may score political points for some, but it
could end up costing lives and damaging the economy.' Signs that the political
capital from attacking safety might be wearing thin came this week when the
previously safety-cynical London Evening Standard carried a lengthy article
noting: 'Safer businesses are more productive, not least because of the
management time taken up when some poor sod has to be scraped off the floor.
And let's not forget inspections focus on occupational health as well, meaning
employees have more chance of working without developing illnesses.' It
concluded: 'Brutal economics has already seen a real-terms hit to wages for
most of us. Now the coalition is coming after life and limb as well.'
