Safety reps
Union safety reps have a dramatic, positive impact on safety at work – and the more training they get, the safer the workplace. Evidence shows that workplaces with union safety reps and joint union-management safety committees have major injury rates less than half of those without.
Safety reps’ rights and functions include a legal right to: Represent employees in discussions with the employer on health, safety or welfare and in discussions with HSE or other enforcing authorities; investigate hazards and dangerous occurrences; investigate complaints; carry out inspections of the workplace and inspect relevant documents; attend safety committees; be paid for time spent on carrying out their functions, and to undergo training.
Safety reps in union recognised workplaces have the legal right to paid time off for union approved safety training. HSE’s evaluation of the impact of safety reps training found the more training a safety rep underwent, the greater the positive impact at work.
It has been repeatedly demonstrated in studies from a range of countries that worker activity, with union support behind it, is a major factor in reducing injuries and disease at work. Statistics show that better standards of health and safety are achieved in unionised workplaces than in similar non-unionised ones. At the core of this are Safety Representatives. The TUC has produced a report which shows how safety representatives make a difference in practice and how shortcomings in the present regulations limit their effectiveness. It also makes proposals for improving the effectiveness of safety representatives (Charter for change)http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-15491-f0.cfm or download pdf version from http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/safetyrepscharter.pdf
The legal rights of safety Representatives can be found in the "Brown Book" which is the regulations, code of practice and guidance on safety representatives. The TUC has produced a version of this for training purposes which can be downloaded here [pdf].
Links:
Hazards safety reps training and time off briefing
Safety reps profile – what makes them tick
Health and Safety Inspections: A TUC Guide
TUC New Unionism safety reps pages
Organising for Health and Safety: A TUC Resource for use in the workplace
The most recent documents available on this subject are:
Union safety rep honoured by the Queen
Terri Miller, a union safety rep, who works at a printing firm in Dunstable has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for her contribution to health and safety in the print industry.
16 June 2009
TUC welcomes PM's comments on union safety reps
Welcoming the Prime Minister's acknowledgement today (Tuesday) of the important role that unions and safety representatives play in keeping UK workplaces safe, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
28 April 2009
focus on health
trade union trends survey
TUC biennial survey of safety reps 2008
PDF version available for download
27 October 2008
Stress, overwork and office hazards top workers' safety concerns
Stress or overwork, injuries and illnesses caused by the poor use of display screen equipment and repetitive strain injuries (RSI) top the list of workers' safety concerns, according to the TUC's biennial survey of safety reps published today (Monday).
27 October 2008
Stress, overwork and office hazards top workers' safety concerns in Wales
Stress or overwork, injuries and illnesses caused by the poor use of display screen equipment, repetitive strain injuries (RSI) and slips and trips top the list of Welsh workers' safety concerns, according to the TUC's biennial survey of safety reps published today (Monday).
27 October 2008
TUC launches safety rep charter
The TUC has launched a new charter to enhance the role of safety representatives in the workplace.
PDF version available for download
24 October 2008
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