Firms warned over health failings

Businesses not complying with health and safety laws should brace themselves for the wrath of the authorities, the government has warned.

Speaking at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health's 2006 conference, health and safety minister Lord Hunt said firms which fail to adhere to regulations on protecting workers "will feel the heat."

"Safeguarding the welfare of workers is not just morally right. Many of our more progressive organisations have long recognised the wider benefits of good health and safety management. Managing health and safety risks looks after the bottom line," he said.

"The Health and Safety Executive's strong messages about risks are backed up by equally robust enforcement when those risks are wilfully ignored - those who don't see the light will feel the heat."

Hunt's words were backed up by conservative shadow minister Tim Boswell.

"I don't know many companies who like it when a member of their workforce is killed, but there has to be a regulator who deals with those who don't even try," he said.

"If you go around killing your workforce and having a high level of accidents you are damaging your productivity and your reputation. It's a very bad business for business, and not good for the people involved either."

According to official figures, 35 million working days are lost every year due to health and safety failures, costing UK companies £9 billion.