The entire union movement has overwhelmingly backed a UCATT-led motion condemning the Government's continued attacks on safety laws.

The motion condemned the massive cuts being forced on the Health and Safety Executive and also attacked the Government’s proposals to remove the self-employed from safety legislation.

Moving the motion Steve Murphy, General Secretary of construction union UCATT condemned previous comments by David Cameron when he described health and safety as a "monster" and said that he wanted to "kill off the health and safety culture for good".

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Mr Murphy, said: "Perhaps Cameron should try telling that to the families of the 173 people killed at work last year. Whose only crime was to try to earn a living.

"This Government is prepared to risk workers’ lives to win cheap headlines. That is why we must say enough is enough. We need to fight to keep workers safe. Protecting workers’ lives is a fight we have fought before. We must fight this battle again."

(CD)