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Health and Safety

We're Here to Make Our Industry Safer.

There is no doubt that construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the UK. Every year dozens of people die on site, several thousands get injured or develop work-related health problems. This is why improving health and safety on construction sites plays a key role in UCATT's daily work and ongoing campaigns. We want employers to comply with the existing health and safety regulations, and we want workers to know their rights. Every worker also needs to have a good grasp of major workplace dangers so they can contribute to a better protection.

In the section Key Health and Safety Issues you find information about major health and safety issues such as:

  • information on workplace hazards
  • guidance on what each worker can do to prevent injuries and work-related ill health
  • legal developments and
  • information on and for safety reps.

You can also download the bi-monthly Health and Safety News bulletins which provide updates about ongoing developments and events.

Key Health & Safety Issues

Print

Friday, 01 August 2008

Pleural Plaques compensation 

Law Lords ruling

In October 2007 the Law Lords ruled that workers who have developed pleural plaques would no longer receive compensation. Pleural plaques is a scarring of the lung caused by exposure to asbestos fibres. The decision to stop payments brings down an established right to compensation, which had existed for 20 years and which will save insurers of companies who exposed their workforce to asbestos more than £1bn over the next four decades.

UCATT campaign

UCATT is appalled by the ruling and its underlying ignorance and misjudgement. Following the ruling UCATT has set up a large-scale campaign requesting the Government to introduce fresh legislation to overturn the judgement. Urgent action is needed as the Scottish Parliament has already started the legislative process to overturn the House of Lords decision. Failure to act will create a postcode lottery on a serious health issue. As of July 2008, Government has issued a consultation document on the way ahead.