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Health and Safety Act changes ‘a licence to kill’ for self-employed

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9 February 2015

Parliament
A virtual licence to kill according to TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady

REVISED health and safety rules for the self-employed has been slammed by union leaders as “a licence to kill”.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has attacked new proposals to exempt millions of self-employed workers from health and safety legislation.

This is one of the most dangerous pieces of legislation that has ever come before the House of Lords

The House of Lords are due to vote on plans that mean self-employed workers who work as sole traders will no longer be covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act, unless they work in a select list of occupations and sectors.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “This is one of the most dangerous pieces of legislation that has ever come before the House of Lords.
“The changes will mean that the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities will be powerless to stop millions of self-employed workers putting themselves and the public at risk, unless they work in a select list of occupations or sectors.

“These proposals are virtually a licence to kill. It will be a green light to cowboys and incompetents to cut corners and take risks – not only with their own lives but also with those of others.

“We hope that the House of Lords will support those amendments which seek to reduce the damage that it will cause if enacted.”

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