Continuity or Change: Occupational Health Policies of Key Organizations in Great Britain After the Major COVID Waves 2020-2022.

Abstract

The neglect of occupational health and safety within Great Britain spans many decades. There has been limited or no recognition of many occupational diseases partly compounded by a chronically under-funded and under-staffed central and local government inspectorate. Workplace inspections have declined. Little enforcement, prosecution and fines of those breaching laws occur. With its departure from the European Union, Great Britain has further neglected hazards at work and has become even more committed to soft regulation and de facto deregulation under the guise of "better regulation" to support economic growth. The Covid pandemic highlighted many workplace health and safety shortcomings. With few exceptions - notably non-governmental organizations, trade unions and some professional bodies - relatively little appears to have been learnt by government and regulators in terms of policies and practices that will improve worker health and safety post-Covid and avoid similar disasters in future pandemics.