The TUC has welcomed this week’s decision to award London the 2012 Olympics but warned that planning must start now to ensure that there is not a repeat of the high death toll that occurred in the run up to last year's Olympics in Athens. At least 13 workers, mainly migrant labourers, were killed during construction work prior to the 2004 Olympics. Some estimates put the total toll at up to 40 lives when worker deaths on infrastructure projects were included.
Speaking after the announcement, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The preparations for the Olympics will involve the biggest construction project seen for decades. Today's decision is great for London, but let's make sure that safety is built in right from the word go.
The key to safe construction work is proper planning, realistic timescales, good safety cases, union recognition, training and worker involvement.' GMB acting general secretary Paul Kenny said: 'The right employment model must be used to ensure safety and to avoid exploitation and tax evasion. It is essential that the employment model at Heathrow Terminal 5 site is used for all the Olympic construction sites to ensure that no workers are killed realising these projects - as has happened in other winning cities- that the employment is well paid and that employers and workers pay their proper share of income tax and national insurance…. There needs to be well resourced, properly functioning joint safety committees like at T5 to prevent death and injury."
Back
