Happy Birthday Health & Safety at Work

Thanks to the TUC for reminding everyone here that on Thursday 1 October it was the 35th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

This Act which has always tried to bring together unions, employers and the government is the bedrock of safety for workers and the public in this country. It puts clear legal responsibilities on employers (and employees) and gave us safety committees, trade union safety representatives and obligations to consult.

While I think it needs to be amended to give for example safety reps greater rights and for there to be greater penalties for breaches - this one Act has helped save countless thousands of lives and prevented millions of accidents and industrial illnesses since 1974.