As deaths in UK docks increase, Unite declare it is “ludicrous to downgrade dock safety regulations”
As deaths at UK docks increase Unite, the UK’s largest union, finds it ‘ludicrous’ that the government has not only downgraded the safety level of docks, but now proposes to scrap all dock safety regulations – which the union believes to be a ‘recipe for disaster’.
In October 2011, the government downgraded health and safety in docks which is now considered ‘low risk’. However, since then the fatal accident rate in UK docks has increased to a level five times the national average with eight deaths in the following three months. Unite has previously condemned the government for weakening health and safety in UK ports and believes this has resulted in an increase in fatal accidents.
Unite’s executive member for docks, Andy Green, said: “This governments ludicrous plans for dock safety regulation is nothing short of a recipe for disaster. Since the downgrade of health and safety, the number of fatal injuries has increased and now this government plans to go further by scrapping the last remaining safe guard for dockworkers.
“This callous government needs to provide the necessary resources to HSE so that workers in our ports are safe, as the current funding levels are crippling the HSE with reduced enforcement and inspections in the so called ‘low risk’ dock industry. The truth is that workers are being killed at work at an alarming rate.
Unite's national officer for docks, Julia Long, who has previously called for health and safety action across all ports to reflect the dangers within the port industry said: "There have been a number of tragic incidents in UK docks which goes to show that the government needs to have an urgent rethink on its position as it sets the ports as a 'low risk' industry.
“This government is unceasing in its attacks on health and safety in our ports, which is now set to go further with plans to scrap Docks Regulations, the last remaining laws that are specific to protecting dockworkers health and safety. Its so called red tape challenge aiming to reduce burdens on business has just shifted the burden onto bereaved families who have lost loved ones.
“The government is promoting self regulation within the docks by promoting the unaccountable employers, who serve their own interests first and put safety second. The government must urgently recognise that docks are high risk workplaces and scrap its plans to revoke Docks Regulations.”
ENDS
For further information contact Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite press office on 020 7420 8914 or 07980 224761.
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