Corporate health and safety crime at work

Delays to vibration directive are slammed by T&G

Speaking today after a meeting of the RAAW/TGWU Health and Safety Committee Barry Leathwood welcomed the EU Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive approved by the EU Council of Ministers.

The new regulations when fully implemented will do much to reduce the painful and serious effects of regular exposure to vibration.

However he attacked the decision to further delay the implementation of the limit values for agriculture and forestry equipment until 2013 as "disgraceful." The directive will be introduced in 2004 although there will be a transition period for the implementation of the limit values until 2010.

Mr. Leathwood said, "It is widely acknowledged that it is farm and forestry workers who because of the very nature of their work are more seriously affected than virtually every other group but once again the interests of theses isolated and vulnerable workers is to take second place to the profits of farming employers.

"Agricultural workers in this most dangerous of industries are not asking for special treatment - if vibration from working long hours on tractors and other work equipment is a danger to their health, then measures to safeguard their health should apply equally to all workers."