Privatization and Multi-Fatality Disasters
A Causal Connection Exposing Both Worker and Citizen Health and Safety Failures in the UK
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15510207 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Matthias Beck (0000-0002-5664-2438, National University of Ireland, corresponding author), Andrew Watterson (0000-0002-8278-9863, University of Stirling) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 20 |
| Pages | 13138-13138 |
| Publication date | 2022-10-12 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph192013138 |
| PMID | 36293717 |
| OpenAlex | W4304807104 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 14 |
Although several countries have experienced large-scale privatization initiatives, relatively little is known about the impact of these initiatives on the health and safety of workers and resident populations. Examining data on technical (as compared to natural) multi-fatality disasters collected in the WHO's Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) for the UK and a number of European comparator countries for recent decades, this paper shows that the incidence of these disasters and the number of deaths resulting from them rose significantly in the UK during the period from 1979 to 1991 when the country engaged in extensive and aggressive privatization campaigns which were supported by several consecutive Conservative governments. This observed UK blip or abnormal increase in multi-fatality disasters is apparent for the UK both in terms of a "within-country" comparison (i.e., when we compare the privatization period of 1979 to 1997 with other periods), as well as when viewed in terms of comparisons with the comparable European countries of Germany, France, and Italy for the same period (1979 to 1997). Contrary to previous analyses which suggested that there is no clear link between privatization and deterioration of health and safety, this paper concludes that the UK privatization experience (1979-1997) provides robust country-specific evidence of privatization initiatives leading to increases in the number of multi-fatality technological disasters as well as related fatalities. This evidence should be seen as a deterrent to similarly extensive and aggressive initiatives which, particularly in less developed countries, could result in similarly disastrous outcomes
Business · Case fatality rate · Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Geography · Natural disaster · Occupational safety and health · Political science · Population · Public health · Scale (ratio · Disaster Response and Management · Employment and Welfare Studies · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Medicine
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The Risk Implications of Globalisation
Profits before people”? A systematic review of the health and safety impacts of privatising public utilities and industries in developed countries
Margaret Thatcher and Thatcherism
Institutions, regulation, and change
Transcending the deregulation debate? Regulation, risk, and the enforcement of health and safety law in theUK
Privatisation, governance and identity
Economic Perspectives on Privatization
| Highly cited | No |
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