Safety voices silenced?

Workers’ voices on vital health and safety issues risk being silenced, as the health and safety executive (HSE) plans to shutter two toxic substances committees advised by unions and employers.

The HSE has suggested an intention to replace its current tripartite system – in which workers, employers, and government all have a say in occupational health concerns—with a system dependent on the advice of academic “experts”.

The disbanding of one committee, Working group on action to control chemicals (WATCH), has been confirmed by the HSE, while its parent committee, the Advisory committee on toxic substances (ACTS), is also threatened and may not survive in its current form.

Both of these committees have been highly involved in developing policies on toxic chemicals in the workplace, such as asbestos.

But why is it important that unions be part of the conversation on occupational health concerns and what are the limitations of relying on academics?

According to Hugh Robertson, senior policy officer for health and safety at the TUC, workers, who have direct experience on the shop floor, are much better attuned to potential health hazards well before academics can decisively prove the risks of such hazards.

Robertson said, “Because a disease can manifest itself many years after exposure, by the time it shows up in studies, thousands of people may have been exposed.

“Unions believe in the ‘precautionary principle’ which is that to take action on the basis that there may be a risk until proven otherwise.”

Robertson cites asbestos, silica and wood dust, among a wide range of other products, as examples of health hazards trade unions knew about well before academics realised they were dangerous.

Unite national health and safety adviser, Bud Hudspith was highly critical of HSE’s plans for potentially restructuring ACTS.

In his comments to the HSE board, Hudspith said, “The idea that tripartism should be removed from the consideration of committee membership is both alarming and completely unacceptable.

“I thought we had long escaped from the notion that experts and scientists are completely independent and value free in their judgments.

“I have serious problems with the idea that “experts” understand the real world of work and chemicals better than those who represent those at risk of chemical exposure,” he added.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey called for the immediate halt of plans to close these vital health and safety committees.

He said, “It seems the HSE is trying to eliminate trade unions from giving advice on workplace ill health. According to HSE, involving the workforce is a key component of good health and safety – maybe they only say that when it suits them.”

The fate of the ACTS committee will be determined by the HSE board following the review of a board paper, to be discussed in a closed meeting in late October.