As the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow closes this weekend,a national safety group is celebrating Britain’s successful record for keeping workers safe.
“Construction of Glasgow’s new Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome succeeded without a fatality, which reminds us that there is a commitment in the UK to keeping workers safe which we should be very proud of,” said John Spencer, president of not-for-profit safety campaign group the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
“Tragedies like those during construction of the World Cup venues in Brazil and Qatar, and during preparations for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, should never happen under Britain’s health and safety policies,” John went on.
John’s message comes on the 40th anniversary of the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
“Others should learn lessons on how to safeguard their workers. Construction is a notoriously dangerous industry,but thankfully here we have protection in place to reduce the risk of people dying, being injured, or becoming ill as a result of going to work.
“For the first time in Olympic history, all construction projects for London 2012 were completed without a fatality. Far from being pointless regulation, as it is sometimes perceived to be, health and safety is necessary protection to stop employers taking risks. It should be celebrated”.