SAFETY campaign group Hazards challenged Britain’s politicians yesterday to take action to protect employees in the workplace.

Thousands of workers die of preventable work-related incidents and illness each year with campaigners arguing that official figures are merely the tip of the iceberg.

Government slashing of so-called “red tape” and drastically reducing funding for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has left many pro-active inspections in many industries a thing of the past which, campaigners argue, could lead to more deaths.

Hazards spokeswoman Hilda Palmer said: “Business as usual for the next five years is not an option for workers’ lives and health. Work shouldn’t hurt and it certainly shouldn’t kill, but in 2015 it still does.”

The campaign group has come up with a 13-point plan for the new government to follow, setting out 10 steps for the politicians and three for workers and union safety reps. It reckons this blueprint for action could go some way towards saving lives if implemented on day one by the new administration.

One key proposal Hazards is demanding is that the new government buries the myth that life-saving regulation is a burden on business. It argues that it is actually mismanagement and negligence that is harmful — on the workforce and the economy.

The new government “must put a stop to the erosion of health and safety laws and instigate a programme of inspections to protect workers from unscrupulous employers and keep workers healthy,” Hazards said.

It also calls on the HSE to address its failure “to act on almost all of the ill-health issues caused by modern work.”

The executive must count all workers killed at and by work, including suicides, road, air and sea deaths, all work-related cancers, heart attacks, strokes and fatal lung-disease deaths.

It also calls for the removal of fees for employment tribunals and the protection of whistleblowers.

Ms Palmer said: “Over the last five years some have seen work become hell. For most, it has become more unhealthy and for many it is deadly. This is due to the great deregulation lie causing a retreat from the law, enforcement, prevention and protection.”