COST-CUTTING that is packaged as an attempt to beat the recession is undermining the enforcement of environmental and workplace health standards in Scotland, a report says.
Analysis of health and safety trends by Stirling University warns that ideology rather than evidence is behind cuts in enforcement agencies and a dramatic decrease in official inspections and enforcement.
Its study, Regulating Scotland, warns that the country has work fatality and sickness rates higher than the UK overall and needs an effective regulatory regime to reduce this toll.
We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.
Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.
