Merge of two safety documents is “madness”.
UK Construction union UCATT have warned that proposals to merge two safety documents are “madness” and will lead to an increase in long-term injuries and health problems.
The Health and Safety Executive are currently consulting on the future of the guidance issued covering manual handling regulations. The guidance sets out the duties of employers and employees in preventing short and long term injuries and accidents when handling heavy objects. The HSE is also reviewing the guidance on display screen equipment (computers etc). Bizarrely and as part of the Government’s “war” on “red tape” they are proposing to merge these two totally dissimilar documents.
UCATT believe that this would be a massively retrograde step, construction remains a highly macho industry, where not lifting heavy objects is considered a sign of weakness and there is widespread non-compliance with the existing regulations. Companies are going to be even more dismissive of the regulations if the guidance is merged with those on display screen equipment which they will not see as relevant.
In their consultation response UCATT argue: “merging documents with guidance on display screen equipment will make the issue look less relevant to both employers and workers. This must not happen, considering the extent of musculoskeletal disorders in the construction sector as a result of constant manual handling activities.”
Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: “These proposals are madness and make no sense whatsoever. The existing manual handling guidance is an excellent straightforward document. Altering or merging the guidance will lead to confusion and result in employers increasingly ignoring the advice.”
The manual handling guidance is currently a straightforward but substantial document; if it was merged it’s almost certain its length would be reduced, with important advice being cut.
The manual handling regulations are particularly important for construction workers. Many construction workers are forced to leave the industry before they reach state pension age due to ill health and injuries. Long-term musculoskeletal injuries are a major factor in workers being forced to leave the industry.
Mr Murphy added: “Workers suffer long-term damage and their bodies are crippled through lifting heavy objects. It beggars belief that anyone would consider it a good idea to confuse or weaken the advice which prevent this from occurring.”
