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Implement the Occupational Health Services requirement in the Framework Directive

Britain is one of the few countries in Europe where all workers do not have access to an Occupational Health Service. The Hazards Campaign calls on the government to implement this requirement of the Framework Directive, particularly the sections on setting up protective and preventative services, and ensuring that the services are multi-disciplinary, and not just medically oriented. Workers must have a say in how any occupational health services are controlled and run.

Support existing worker-oriented occupational health projects and research

Occupational Health Projects have been established in the voluntary sector, funded by enlightened Local Authorities and Health Authorities, and by some grants from the National Lottery Charities Fund. These projects help many people with occupational health problems and have provided a useful service to local health care professionals and organisations. The Hazards Campaign welcomes the interest shown in occupational health by the HSE's 'Occupational Health Strategy' but demands that this should be controlled by working people and not the medical professions. There should also be increased financial support for existing and new projects, and the establishment of a national fund for worker-oriented occupational health research.

Fund Workers' Hazards Centres and groups

Hazards Centres provide excellent services including advice and research for employee representatives, tenants' and residents' groups, and other voluntary sector organisations. They constantly face funding problems which threaten these services. The Hazards Campaign demands the provision of adequate funding for these organisations through Local Authorities, Government Departments and a levy on employers.

Provide funding for victim support groups and families affected by industrial injury and illness

Victim support groups provide an important service for accident and industrial illness victims and their families and save many from utter despair. There are several very active Asbestos Victims support groups, RSI groups and Bereaved Relatives groups within the Hazards Campaign. It is cruel injustice that victims of car theft or burglary are provided with help from government funded schemes, but the families of those killed at work are not. The Hazards Campaign calls for funding for such groups to be provided in the same way in which Victims Support is provided for victims of other criminal offences.