An announcement made earlier this week by Work and Pensions Minister, Chris Grayling MP, could have serious repercussions for the number of serious accidents at work in the UK.

In the announcement, Grayling confirmed that the number of HSE inspections is set to fall by at least a third. In addition, the new policy means that many businesses, and in some instances whole industries, will not be investigated until after there has been a death or serious injury.

Speaking in the Mirror, Grayling claimed that the changes to HSE inspection legislation were a cut to “unnecessary red tape”.

However many accident at work solicitors feel that this may represent flawed thinking.

These changes to policy have obvious implications for UK accident at work statistics; if health and safety inspections are not being carried out, employers are more likely to become negligent in their maintenance of a safe working environment.

Fining companies post-accident for neglect of health and safety practices also seems a mistake; surely dissuasion, by way of regular HSE inspections and fines for non-compliance with regulations, is a better way of avoiding workplace accidents?

Many UK work injury lawyers are now predicting that serious accidents at work will rise as a direct result of the Work and Pensions minister’s changes to HSE inspections.

If you want to find out more about claiming compensation following an accident at work, contact the team at Alkers Solicitors. Our specialist personal injury solicitors will be happy to discuss the details of your case during an initial consultation.