The union's response came after the results of the latest Worker Involvement consultation exercise. The HSE recommended that no action be taken to change current health and safety laws.
 
Amicus said the HSE ignored the consultation's respondents. It said the HSE made the decision despite 91% of respondents agreeing that there should be a duty on employers to consult safety representatives on risk assessment.
 
The union added 96% said that there should be a duty to respond to representations from safety representatives.
 
Rob Miguel, Amicus Health and Safety Officer, said: "It is an outrage that genuine consultation was literally being ignored. As well as overwhelming trade union support for changes in the consultation, 72% of employers were also in favour of a duty to respond to representations from safety reps."
 
However, the union added, there will be further discussions with the Trades Unions Congress and Confederation of British Industry to look again at whether changes could be made to either the regulations or the Approved Code of Practice. A further paper on legislative changes will be produced in the next few months.
 
Amicus said it has written to the HSE asking them to reconsider their position.