Construction workers will protest outside Conservative headquarters today at Millbank in opposition to Conservative plans to privatise safety inspections.

If enacted these plans will lead to an increase in deaths and serious accidents occurring on building sites.

During their conference in October 2009 the Conservatives announced that if elected they would allow companies to undertake independent safety audits. Once these were completed companies would be able to bar Health and Safety Executive inspectors entering their sites, unless there was an emergency. Despite UCATT warning that the policy would increase workplace deaths the Conservatives confirmed in March 2010, that if elected they will press ahead with the plans.


Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "The Conservatives are playing politics with workers’ lives. By privatising safety inspections the Tories are endangering the lives of construction workers."

Construction is the most dangerous industry in Britain. In 2008/9 there were 53 construction fatalities. However before the industry entered a severe recession in 2008, construction fatalities were on average 6 per month. In 2007/8, 72 construction workers were killed at work.

Mr Ritchie, added: "Construction workers should be angry and frightened about the Conservatives' proposals. It will place them at increased risk while at work. This is not some spurious health and safety argument about not allowing children to play conkers in the playground, these plans endanger workers' lives."

In order to further raise awareness of the Conservatives' plans UCATT will be leafleting construction workers on Workers Memorial Day, Wednesday 28th April, warning them about what the Conservative privatised safety plans will mean for them.

(CD)