Yorkshire MP calls for scrapping of 'appalling' health and safety watchdog

Speaking in the Commons today Barnsley East MP Stephanie Peacock hit out at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for its response to coronavirus cases at a food factory in Wombwell, near Barnsley, where three workers have died.

Ms Peacock said: “Isn’t it time we had a debate on the appalling performance of the Health and Safety Executive?

“Cranswick Foods in Wombwell has had numerous cases of Covid-19 and three deaths, and yet it took the Health and Safety Executive three months to visit the factory, and I’m yet to receive a response to my letter.

“They clearly have no interest in health, no interest in safety, so will this executive abolish the HSE and finally put workers first?”

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said it was a “discourtesy” for the HSE not to have replied to Ms Peacock’s letter and pledged to take up the issue with the body.

Earlier this month Wentworth and Dearne MP John Healey also raised concerns about the HSE.

He said funding cuts had stymied the organisation's ability to respond to concerns.

Labour research claimed funding for the HSE, which is responsible for enforcing Covid-19 regulations, has been cut by more than half since 2010.

Mr Healey said the concern was that without enough funding and a proper system for workplace inspections, the national effort to fight coronavirus is undermined.

The party also said the number of inspectors has dropped by more than one third, 30 per cent fewer enforcement notices were issued, there was a 62 per cent fall in prosecutions, and a 50 per cent drop in convictions.

They said in the same period, spending on health and safety by local authorities also fell by more than 40 per cent.

A Government spokesperson said: “We have made an additional £14m available for HSE to respond to the increased number of concerns from workers and we will continue to review further funding needs.”

Mr Healey’s constituent Dave Baxter, who worked at Cranswick Foods, died on April 19.

His partner Leander Lupton, of Wath-upon-Dearne, said: “My Dave left for work for the last time on April 1 and was admitted to hospital on April 6.

“When he was in the back of the ambulance, he asked me to let them know he wouldn’t be going in – he didn’t want to let them down. If they’d shown the same concern, they might still have a loyal, hard-working employee, my son would still have a dad and the world would still have a kind, gentle and giving man.

“They have put measures in place only since there have been deaths and hospital admissions. They put employee’s lives on the line for the sake of profit. People don’t speak up because they’re scared for their jobs.”

A spokesperson for Cranswick Foods previously said: “From the outset of the pandemic, we implemented additional measures to protect both the physical and mental wellbeing of our people, including social distancing measures where practical, recommended PPE for all employees in line with PHE and WHO guidelines, additional cleaning and hygiene measures, as well as support such as counselling and occupational health services.

"All colleagues are also advised not to attend work if they have any symptoms."

They said they were working with the relevant authorities, including the HSE, Public Health England, Food Standards Agency and local environmental health officers.

A HSE spokesman added: “A HSE visit is made after we identify a need to assess conditions or to take enforcement action. This is decided on a case by case basis following a thorough assessment of information and evidence collected by an inspector.

“Since March 9 HSE has addressed nearly 8,000 concerns relating to the pandemic. Furthermore, between 26 May and 1 July, HSE contacted 3,856 businesses and 2,386 spot inspections were completed. Around a dozen notices related to COVID-19 have been issued, showing that the majority of businesses we have been in contact with act on our advice.”