The government has said that as part of this proposal, the HSE will reduce its proactive inspections by one-third – around 11,000 inspections per year – through "better targeting based on hard evidence of effectiveness". This means abolishing proactive inspections for certain industries, which appears to include printing, paper and packaging. In fact, there is a suggestion that there will no longer be any inspections by HSE inspectors.

We are concerned that this will give less responsible employers a green light to ignore health and safety because they will not be visited by the HSE. We welcome initiatives such as that agreed between the European Mine, Chemical, and Energy Workers’ Federation and Confederation of European Paper Industries, since this indicates that more responsible employers and their representatives understand the business benefits of promoting good health and safety. This is why Unite works with the Confederation of Paper Industries and within Paper and Board Industry Advisory Committee to promote health and safety in the UK paper and packaging industries.

Of course this reinforces the need for Unite representatives in the workplace to highlight health and safety problems and do all they can to press employers to improve workplace health and safety. This is why we place a very strong emphasis on the role of Unite-appointed workplace safety representatives. A brilliant example of what such reps can do can be found at independent Scottish paper manufacturer Tullis Russell, where the Unite safety reps have just been given an award by the Scottish TUC. Eight safety representatives were nominated for the award after they negotiated a joint strategy and approach to health, safety and environmental issues at the Fife-based mill. The safety representative’s role includes checking that the employer also carries out its responsibilities.

Greater risk
Ultimately, we believe that government cuts to the HSE will increase the risks to our members at work and the outcome will be more accidents and ill-health for our members. Unite will continue to work with employers who make a commitment to improving health and safety at work, though this will not be helped if government cuts lead to less involvement in this process from the HSE. We will appoint Unite safety reps because it is clear that union-organised workplaces are safer workplaces. Plans by ministers to slash health and safety workplace inspections by 11,000-a-year will hit some of our most dangerous workplaces, and will include printing, packaging and paper. Workers need stronger regulation and enforcement. This is a direct assault on the working conditions of people employed in the print and paper industries and needs to be resisted by workers and good employers alike.

Bud Hudspith is health and safety adviser at Unite