Disgust as HSE top job focuses on commercial opportunities and not safety
Construction union UCATT has expressed disgust and disquiet following the publication of the advert to recruit a new chief executive to run the Health and Safety Executive.
The advert’s opening line reads: “We are now seeking a new chief executive to help lead change in the organisation and take advantage of a range of national and international commercial opportunities.”
While the advert for the £160,000 per annum post, mentions three times that the post holder will be expected to make the HSE more commercial, it fails to mention the importance of improving worker safety.
Steve Murphy, general secretary of UCATT, said: “This is disgusting and yet again shows the contempt the Government has for the safety of working people. The primary role of the Chief Executive of the HSE should be about ensuring the lives of workers are not put at risk. Instead they are looking for someone to sell the organisation’s services to the highest bidder.”
Mr Murphy added: “The HSE is not a commercial organisation full stop. Rather than trying to make money from the HSE the Government should be reversing the HSE’s funding cuts, in order to ensure that people can work safely.”
By April 2015 the HSE’s budget will have been cut by at least 35% since the Conservative-led Government took office in May 2010.
