NEWS RELEASE 19 November 2003
STUC CONCERNED OVER LATEST SAFETY STATISTICS
Worsening Scottish picture contrasts with improvements in Wales
The STUC has expressed concern over latest statistics that show a significant rise in the number of workplace fatalities and no improvement in the number of major injuries suffered by Scottish workers in the last year.
Commenting on the figures Ian Tasker, STUC Health and Safety Officer said
" The confirmation in the latest HSE report that there has been a significant rise in the number of work related deaths - with 36 Scottish workers losing their lives - is a matter of the utmost concern. Equally worrying is the fact that there has been no reduction in major injuries to workers an area where improvement in desperately needed.
This increase clearly highlights the requirement for urgent action to taken by the Scottish Executive, the Health and Safety Executive and ourselves to ensure that the health safety and welfare of Scottish workers is protected and employers who kill or maim workers or members of the public face the full force of the law and are penalised in a similar manner to others who perpetrate crimes against innocent individuals in our society.
Yet again the report shows that penalties imposed and enforcement activity are substantially lower than in Wales and it is worth noting that the same report covering Welsh workers shows a noticeable improvement in workplace fatalities and major injuries.
We will be discussing these latest figures with the HSE and the Scottish Executive at the earliest opportunity".