UK attitude to health and safety among worst in Europe, says think tank

Research published by the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) trade union think tank shows the UK has a poor record of commitment to international health and safety standards, and “our already hopelessly inadequate occupational health and safety regime” could get even worse post-Brexit.

The authors of International health and safety standards after Brexit, University of Liverpool academics Dr Andrew Moretta and Professor David Whyte, say the government’s dismissive attitudes to health and safety protections for workers are leading to tragic outcomes in the fight against Covid-19.

And the situation could worsen post-Brexit, they warn, as proposals to ensure convergence between UK law and EU Directives relating to employment rights – the majority of which concern health and safety – were dropped from the withdrawal agreement earlier this year.

https://www.ier.org.uk/press-releases/research-uks-attitude-to-health-and-safety-among-the-worst-in-europe