29/04/2010 - Asbestos victims receive £2m payout
Up to £2 million has been paid out to workers who have fallen victim to asbestos-related diseases in the past 12 months, a union revealed.
UNISON, the UK's largest public sector union, chose Workers' Memorial Day to unveil the figure and put health and safety on the political radar during the General Election race.
General secretary Dave Prentis said the issue of health and safety had "barely been mentioned during the election campaign", adding that stricter inspections and tighter regulations were needed to cut the number of preventable deaths in the workplace each year.
"It is shocking that so many workers have died, or been seriously injured, because employers have failed to take the necessary steps to protect them," he said.
"Too many employers put short-cuts before the safety of their staff and many workers still suffer in silence, losing their physical and mental health before management are forced to take action.
"UNISON helps members and their families get compensation for injuries and illness. The compensation for asbestos-related injuries and deaths goes some way towards getting justice for the victims, helping them pay for their treatment and funding the families left behind, but it will never make up for the tragic loss of life."
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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