THE Health and Safety Executive has caved in to employers' groups by not giving more powers to its safety officials, says Bolton North-east MP David Crausby.
He said thousands of health and safety representatives had been given "a slap in the face" by the HSE.
Currently there is no obligation on employers to respond to suggestions by safety officials to improve health and safety at their workplace, nor to involve them in assessing risks, despite the high value placed on their contribution by government.
Consultation by the Health and Safety Executive found that over 70 per cent of employers were in favour of new powers for safety reps.
But Mr Crausby said the HSE had caved in to pressure from key employers' groups the CBI and Engineering Employers Federation, which both opposed the change.
He said: "This is an incredibly embarrassing decision, in the light of such an overwhelming response in favour from the consultation.
"This change would have given health and safety reps real teeth, but it seems HSE has caved in to the CBI and the EEF."
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