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From International Socialism, No.66, February 1974, pp.30-31.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.
Hazards at Work
Pat Kinnersly
Pluto Press, 90p
MARX, ENGELS and others, through their writings and actions, created an ever growing army of politically conscious and dedicated socialists. Marx laid the foundation for a highly motivated working class and provided it with the basic weapons necessary to conduct the class war. It is vital, however, to constantly review the situation, to be always aware of new weapons of attack and of various employers’ offensives. Pat Kinnersly’s book Hazards at Work brilliantly fills a defensive gap and will doubtless lay the groundwork for a long term offensive against profit hungry employers.
Even for workers with little or no understanding of the class conflict, Kinnersly’s book provides information and data about their workplace environment which would not otherwise be readily available to them. Although some union leaders and shop stewards are vaguely aware of the perils in their midst it must be accepted that apart from the odd leaflet from TUC sources, most of the available material workers read is published by or on behalf of employers. Pat Kinnersly demonstrates the danger of accepting such documents and statements on accident prevention, etc., at their face value. They would appear to be largely responsible for the widespread myth that the careless worker is to blame for most accidents.
The easy-to-read language of Hazards belies the painstaking research which must have gone into its compilation: it is a pleasure to read through the book without having to decipher the sort of specialist jargon which frightens readers away from far less comprehensive textbooks. Almost every worker who reads Hazards will find at least one section which is relevant to his or her place of employment. Fumes, gas, noise, vibration, dust, mental stress, chemicals, working systems, diseases, symptoms, etc., are given full coverage in this book. Equally important, readers will find realistic suggestions on what action they must take to protect themselves and to make the place of work in which we have to spend such a large proportion of our time into a safer, healthier environment.
To transform society from capitalism to socialism it is necessary to change the values and attitudes of working people, a tremendously difficult task when, faced with the insidious propaganda of the mass media controlled by the employers. Anything which helps alter the outlook imposed on the working class is very welcome, and Hazards at Work is a valuable instrument for doing just that. The book may not alter the fixed mentality of the retired blimps of Bournemouth but it could well have dramatic effects at the source of all economic wealth – the shop floor.
Hazards at Work must be widely bought and widely discussed and, last but not least, it must be widely used to better the conditions of workers everywhere.
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Last updated on 8.3.2008