Printing and paper companies successfully prosecuted for health and safety breaches last year had their details published last week.


The Government's first ever Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforcement report, Health and Safety Offences, noted that the papermaking industry had 29 convictions last year and its major injury rate was twice as high as manufacturing in general.


GPMU national safety officer Bud Hudspith said: "We strongly support corporate manslaughter laws to prosecute firms that kill people at work.


"We would also like to see the names of companies who have been issued with prohibition and improvement notices by the HSE made public.


"There has been an acceptance over the years of danger within the industry and a poor safety record, but that is changing as companies are being told that they cannot get away with it for much longer."


Story by Eloise Seddon