An election briefing by the trade union backed Hazards Campaign said the three main parties have proposed ‘nothing positive’ to improve workplace safety.
The Conservative and Liberal Democrat manifestoes come under fire for containing ‘worrying commitments’ to reduce regulations and enforcement.
The Conservative manifesto states ‘increasing amounts of red tape and complex regulation’ have harmed businesses. It says a Conservative government would force any government body wanting to introduce a new regulation to reduce regulation elsewhere by a greater amount.
The Liberal Democrat manifesto states they would reduce the ‘burden’ of unnecessary red tape, introduce ‘sunset clauses’ and work towards the principle of ‘one in, one out’ for new rules.
The campaigners believe the facts don’t back up the Conservative and Liberal claims of over regulation. According to the TUC there is now 46% less regulation than 35 years ago and 37% less than 15 years ago when the Conservatives were in power.
The briefing also condemned the Labour government over its health and safety record.
It states: “They have presided over a collapse in enforcement while in government, and recently rejected implementing positive legal duties for health and safety on company directors as recommended by Rita Donaghy in a government commissioned report into the appalling record of the construction industry.”