Risksissue no 15 - 18 August 2001 |
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Risks is the TUC’s weekly online bulletin for safety reps and others. To register to receive this bulletin every week, click here. Edited by Rory O'Neill of Hazards magazine. Send views about this bulletin to Owen Tudor. Past issues are archived at www.tuc.org.uk/risks/. This bulletin also contains Links TUC courses for safety reps Disclaimer Privacy CONTENTSUnion newsOther news
International news
UNION NEWSWork asthma toll proves need for legally binding codeEmployers are failing to control the causes of work-related asthma, leading to an epidemic of the disease. A TUC report in the new edition of Hazards magazine warns that 20 people a day needlessly develop this debilitating and potentially life-threatening condition. TUC now wants a legally binding Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) to set out in detail what employers must do to prevent asthma. TUC’s Owen Tudor said: 'No one needs to develop asthma at work, so anyone who does has cause to be very bitter indeed. People only get one set of lungs, and employers have shown that guidance and general rules aren’t enough. We need a specific legal code on asthma to breathe some life back into workers’ lung safety.' A TUC survey of nearly a thousand union safety reps in workplaces where asthma-causing substances are used regularly, showed that few employers are carrying out all of their general legal obligations. Only 41 per cent were conducting legally-required risks assessments, and less than a quarter (23 per cent) were training their workers. Just eight per cent were following the legally-favoured course of substituting the dangerous substance with one less dangerous. Tube unions could strike over safety and welfareUnions representing London Underground (LUL) workers have threatened to call a strike because bosses have failed to provide enough toilets and decent welfare facilities. Bob Crow, assistant general secretary of the RMT union, said facilities were "prehistoric". LUL has admitted that some women's toilets are inadequate. Both RMT and the train drivers' union, Aslef, are in talks with LUL at the conciliation service ACAS. The unions intend to ballot their members next month if a satisfactory conclusion to the complaints are not reached. On the toilets, Mr Crow said that women workers were deprived of proper facilities. "The women are being told to go to the pub to use the toilet," he said. LUL said that agreed upgrades to facilities will include a reasonable number of lockers, another of the unions' demands, and appropriate notice boards to publish safety and other information. Tube unions have also warned they may strike over safety concerns related to government plans for part-privatisation of the Underground and have spelled out their concerns in a letter to the HSE.
Teacher unions press for action on workloadA government-commissioned study of teacher workload has confirmed teachers’ work is out-of-control and working hours are well in excess of those in comparable professions. The study, carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), was initiated as a condition for the suspension joint action by teaching unions NUT and NASUWT in protest at teacher shortages. Chris Keates, deputy general secretary of NASUWT, said the union welcomed the report, but added: 'There will be bitter disappointment if ministers fail to address inordinately long hours and excessive workload… including setting an overall limit to the working week.' John Bangs, deputy general secretary of the NUT, said the report "shows that teachers' workload has increased, following earlier evidence that primary teachers are already working an average of 53 hours a week and secondary school teachers 51 hours". School standards minister, Stephen Timms, said: "We are clear that workload must be manageable. That is why we set up this review - to find practical ways of reducing excessive workload.'
MSF union urges 'overworked' clergy to get militantBritain's clergy are complaining they are underpaid, overworked and under stress. An article in a newsletter of the clergy union MSF, written by the Rev Roger Brown, who represents Wales on the clergy and church workers' executive of the union, calls for strong action. "We simply cannot carry on painting over the cracks or alleging God will provide." Brown, ordained for 32 years, said: "It is hardly any wonder many clergy are living with stress and many, even those in their forties, are counting the days to retirement, or even looking for other fields of service." MSF represents about 10 per cent of Anglican clergy. US firm investigated by police for spying on safety activistA US multinational microchip maker is being investigated by police for allegedly spying on a Scottish union safety activist. After hearing reports that women workers at the National Semiconductor microchip plant in Greenock were suffering cancers, fertility problems, reproductive illnesses and miscarriages, Jim McCourt, who works for Inverclyde Occupational Health Project and is a member of the GMB trade union, set up Phase II - People for Health and Safety in Electronics - an umbrella group representing sick employees. Now internal company briefings have revealed National Semiconductor’s response - it has been carrying out surveillance on him, his fellow workers and sick and dying women who worked at the company. National Semiconductor has admitted it was behind the surveillance. Jim McCourt has reported the alleged illegal surveillance and Strathclyde Police has confirmed that detectives ware beginning investigations. McCourt is also preparing a civil action to sue the firm for illegally spying on him.
OTHER NEWSDIY workplace safety research is just the jobWorkers are increasingly opting for do-it-yourself research, as a quick, easy and more accurate alternative to traditional studies. A new web-based resource, produced by the Hazards team, contains information on participatory research including materials prepared by unions PCS, UNISON and Usdaw. The new resource includes guides to workplace survey techniques including body mapping and risk mapping, and has examples and a photo gallery of DIY research in action. The TUC strongly supports body mapping, and encourages safety reps and others to use the new web pages.
Rover pays £168,000 for mineral oils-related bladder cancerRover has made an out-of-court payment of £168,000 to a former employee whose bladder was removed due to a cancer he believes he contracted from mineral oils used at the Rover plant in Birmingham. This is believed to be the first such case. Brian Odell, 64, worked at Rover’s Drews Lane plant from 1957 to 1981, first as a machinist and then as a tool setter. He first showed symptoms in 1990 when he began passing blood in his urine. He had a growth removed from his bladder in 1991 and then his bladder and prostate removed in August 1992. The matter was due to go to court in October 2001 but Rover this week paid compensation without admitting liability. Philip Edwards of law firm Irwin Mitchell, who represented Mr Odell, said: 'This was the only place of work where Mr Odell was exposed to mineral oils, which he believes caused his cancer.' Workplace passive smokers have poorer lung functionNon-smokers breathing in their colleagues' cigarette smoke at work may significantly compromise the ability of their lungs to function properly. A study in the latest issue of Occupational and Environmental Medicine involved over 300 male and female non-smoking employees of working age randomly selected from GP records in Glasgow. Researchers found that lung function was significantly adversely affected by environmental tobacco smoke, but that workplace smoke had the greatest impact. Workers exposed to the highest levels were up to three times as likely to have decreased lung function as those exposed to the lowest levels. At the highest level of exposure, there was a 5 to 10 per cent reduction in lung function. The findings provide a strong case for prohibiting smoking in the workplace altogether, say the researchers: 'these findings endorse current policies of strictly limiting smoking in shared areas, particularly working environments.' Clive Bates, director of the anti-smoking group ASH, commented: 'The government committed to improve conditions for non-smokers at work in its 1998 tobacco policy but hasn't managed to do anything but argue, delay and fudge.''
London Underground plans 'zero tolerance' of assaultsLondon Underground is considering introducing a zero tolerance campaign after more than 600 assaults on staff last year. People who attack Tube staff could be banned from the Underground. Mike Brown, the Tube’s customer services director, said: "We are sending out a clear message to all who use the Tube that our staff are not fixed targets of abuse. They are entitled to carry out their duties without fear of verbal attack and physical assault. Whatever the circumstances, and irrespective of your background, profession, age, colour or gender, violence is not acceptable. It's a zero tolerance approach." He added: "We will always prosecute and now we are also looking to see what further steps we can take to keep these people off our system." Site probe into lethal lung dustThousands of construction workers are at risk from serious lung disorders after breathing in deadly fine dust particles given off during cutting and angle grinding work. A report in trade journal Construction News says a Building Research Establishment (BRE) team is monitoring dust levels on a London test site. Jeff Llewellyn, director for safety, health and the environment at the BRE, said: 'Construction sites generate a lot of these fine particles and there is growing evidence they cause various respiratory diseases and can aggravate illnesses people may already have.' Some of the most hazardous activities include angle grinding and cutting and chipping concrete, cutting steel-based materials and demolition processes. HSC plans guidance on zoo safetyProposals to withdraw an old Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) on health and safety standards for zoos and replace it with new guidance have been published by the HSC. Brian Etheridge, head of the HSE’s Local Authority Unit, said: "The guidance will be of great importance to those responsible for operating a zoo. It will provide zoo operators, managers and safety representatives with clear direction in assessing and managing the health and safety of workers and the visiting public."
HSE issues guidance to help prevent injuries to waiting staffThe HSE has published a free information sheet to help reduce injuries to waiting staff. Health and safety for waiting staff aims to remind employers and employees of the types of injury that commonly occur while doing this job and that many accidents can be easily avoided by following a series of simple 'do’s and don’ts.' HSE says the main risks of injury to waiting staff are slips and trips, cuts, burns and injuries from lifting heavy or awkward loads, with the dangers heightened by the use of casual labour in the industry. Percy Smith of HSE’s Enforcement Liaison section said: "Although there are many well-trained competent waiting staff involved in the hospitality industry in all sectors, the irregular nature of some events such as banqueting and special event catering means that large numbers of part-time casual staff have to be employed to augment regular employees."
INTERNATIONALChina: clampdown on corruption after industrial disastersPolice have detained four people and are pursuing six others suspected of safety violations at a factory that collapsed into a tidal river in eastern China, the latest in a string of major industrial disasters. Nine workers are dead and four are missing after the accident, reported Xinhua News Agency. Efforts to clamp down on industrial corruption have escalated in China following an earlier mine disaster. Twenty mining company employees and 70 suspected gang members were arrested this week on suspicion of covering up an accident that killed at least 81 tin miners in the Guangxi region.
Canada: worker dies in North America’s heat waveKim Douglas Warner, a 44-year-old worker at the Crissa Bakery and a member of the Canadian Autoworkers’ union CAW, died on 6 August. The coroner has termed the death heat stress related. The Ontario Labour Ministry inspected the plant and found temperatures at 48 degrees C. An inspector shut down the plant and issued orders for education and training about signs, symptoms and prevention of heat stress. At a meeting two days before the death workers had discussed bargaining demands, where they reported excess heat, lack of heat stress breaks and lack of sufficient amounts of cool water. The union is calling for an inquest. 'The Ontario government should be passing strictly enforceable regulations on heat stress instead of the current guidelines,' said Cathy Walker, CAW health and safety director.
International: sweating the sweatshopsInternational union, religious and civil rights leaders launched a global anti-sweatshop coalition on 7 August in New York City. The coalition plans to protest at major retail outlets throughout the back-to-school and holiday seasons. "Despite years of public pressure against sweatshops, today's global retailers are greedier than ever, and more workers around the world are toiling in sweatshops to make their goods," said Bruce Raynor, president of US textiles union UNITE. Neil Kearney, secretary general of the international textiles and garment union umbrella group ITGLWF said: "What sets this campaign apart from previous anti-sweatshop efforts is the level of international coordination and cooperation it has engendered.'
Australia: act on safety chief's call for review, says unionThe Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union has welcomed the call by the National Occupational Health and Safety chairman for a national review of safety in the construction industry and is urging the Australian federal government to act on that advice. "Professor Dennis Else's comments, echo this union's concern that much more could be done to reduce the horrific numbers of deaths and serious accidents on Australian construction sites," said John Sutton, national secretary CFMEU Construction Division. The union says the Howard government's record on workplace safety 'has been pretty poor so far. This is the government that decimated National Occupational Health and Safety Commission funding so that national safety standards for the construction industry, for example, are still sitting on the shelf unpublished.' Germany: laser printers 'may cause health problems'Researchers have found that people who use laser printers may be putting their health at risk. Oeko Test, a German consumers' magazine, found that toner cartridges often release harmful substances. According to the magazine, eleven cases of toner-related illness have so far been confirmed. Some of the patients have had to give up their jobs, it says. USA: concern on Hispanic deathsA US union leader has said the overall decline in workplace fatalities reported this week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 'is good news for many, but not a l l, American workers.' Last year 5,915 fatal work injuries were reported, the fewest since the fatality census began in 1992. John Sweeney, leader of the 16 million strong US union federation AFL-CIO says the report 'raises great concern about safety and health protections for Hispanic workers. In 2000 the number of workplace fatalities among Hispanic workers increased to 815 from 725 in 1999 - a 12 per cent increase - and fatalities among Hispanic construction workers increased by 24 per cent. For all other groups, the numbers of fatalities were down. Equally troubling is the fact that the number of workplace fatalities among Hispanic workers has increased by 60 per cent since 1992.' Overall fatality rates in the US are at least three times the UK rate. ACTIONSafety rep survey on slips and tripsThe TUC is surveying safety reps on slips and trips, responsible for 8,000 broken bones a year in British workplaces. Slips and trips are one of the Health and Safety Commission's eight priority programmes, and will be a major focus of activity in European week on health and safety in October. The TUC's survey looks at the extent of the problem, the causes, prevention - including risk assessments - and the involvement of safety reps. The TUC is also looking for innovative suggestions on prevention, and good examples of action safety reps have taken to prevent them. Questionnaires should be completed and returned by 14 September. EVENTSRSI Association Annual Conference, 29 SeptemberThe TUC-supported RSI Association annual conference takes place on Saturday 29 September at TUC headquarters in Congress House. Guest speakers include Bruce Lynn and HSE’s Malcolm Darvill. Download the registration form and agenda. Free for RSI Association members, £25 others. European week, 15-22 OctoberEuropean Health and Safety Week 2001 will have the theme 'Success is no accident'. The TUC is backing the week and will be preparing resources to help safety reps in workplace inspections, investigations and reporting. Details from the European Agency, including factsheets on accident prevention, and the HSE’s newsletter (in pdf format). Law enforcement and corporate accountability, 21 NovemberThe TUC is teaming up with the Centre for Corporate Accountability (CCA) for a joint conference to be held at Congress House in London, sponsored by Russell Jones & Walker. Registration costs £25 (£5 unwaged). Details and a downloadable registration form. Stress, 1 DecemberNational Work Stress Network Conference, NASUWT Hillscourt Conference Centre, Birmingham. This year the theme is 'Revitalising safety and action on workplace stress.' Contact: Ian Draper. Workers' Memorial Day 2002, 28 AprilTUC is planning to highlight occupational health, including access to occupational health services, and rehabilitation. Ask your union for details of Workers’ Memorial Day events or organise your own. Hazards magazine round up of Workers’ Memorial Day resources XVI international congress on health and safety, 26-31 MayThe ICFTU has managed to secure over ten presentations on the agenda for this Congress in Vienna, and the TUC will be co-ordinating a daily trade union briefing. Full details including how to attend are on the Congress website. Women, work and health 3rd international congress, 2-5 JuneThe 3rd international congress will take place in Stockholm in 2002, and registration before 1 March 2002 costs £164 including VAT (not too bad for three days) - but hotel costs for single rooms range from £78 to £184 a night. President of LO Sweden Wanja Lundby-Wedin will be making the keynote address, and we are keen to ensure a bigger trade union presence than at previous events. Details and registration forms. Road safety week 2002, 23-29 SeptemberOrganised by BRAKE, an independent road safety charity. Details will be set out on their website. European Week of Health and Safety 2002, 14-21 OctoberNext year’s week will take place in Britain from 14 October, on the theme of stress. LINKSVisit the TUC health and safety website or the main TUC website pages on health and safety. See what’s on offer from TUC Publications.Find out about TUC courses for safety reps from September to December:Wales Scotland East Midlands West MidlandsSouthern and Eastern (plus special COSHH Essentials courses) South West North WestNorthern or Yorkshire and Humberside - contact the TUC REOSubscribe to Hazards magazine, supported by the TUC as a key source of information for union safety reps.What’s new in the HSC/E and the European Agency.HSE Books , PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA. Tel: 01787 881165; fax: 01787 313995.DisclaimerAlthough the web links were all checked at the time of posting this bulletin, we are not responsible for most of the websites you will be taken to. 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Newsletter (3,700 words) issued 18 Aug 2001
