Risksissue no 42 - 23 February 2002 |
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Editor: Rory O'Neill of Hazards magazine. Comments to Owen Tudor. CONTENTS
Risks is the TUC’s weekly online bulletin for safety reps and others, read each week by over 3,000 subscribers and 1,000 on the TUC website. To receive this bulletin every week, click here. Past issues are available. This edition contains Useful links TUC courses for safety reps Disclaimer Privacy The TUC website lists future health and safety events in What’s On - new events are covered below. ACTIONRSI checklist will spot jobs at risk: 1 in 50 workers have RSIThe TUC has issued guidance for 200,000 union safety reps, urging them to use their legal powers to inspect their workplace for the risks of RSI (repetitive strain injury) on International RSI Awareness Day (28 February). TUC says if union reps find significant risks, they should ask their management for a full risk assessment of the jobs most at risk to be carried out, with action taken to manage the risks identified. Figures released by the TUC show that one in every fifty workers (506,000) is suffering from the symptoms of RSI. Last year 5.4 million days were lost in sick leave due to RSI, and every day, six workers left their jobs forever because of RSI. About a third of workers with RSI are under 45, and just over half (55 per cent - 276,000) are women. The TUC’s new guide says union safety reps should use a new "risk filter" designed for HSE inspectors, to spot the main risks factors for RSI, repetitive work, working posture, use of force and vibration. TUC general secretary John Monks said:
UNION NEWSUNISON inspections trigger VDU safety improvement noticesWorkplace inspections by UNISON safety reps that revealed serious flaws in VDU risk assessments have led to official enforcement action. Despite repeated attempts by UNISON reps at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) to get information about the workstation assessments and to identify screen 'users', nothing happened. Frustrated, UNISON eventually contacted the HSE. Following a visit to the university this year, an HSE inspector issued an Improvement Notice, saying the employer was contravening the Health and Safety at Work Act and regulations 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. MMU must now revise its self-assessment questionnaire, identify all users, identify and ensure the competence of staff responsible for managing the assessment process and implementing control measures, and draw-up an action plan and timetable for assessing the workstations of all users.
UNISON whistleblowers teach college a lesson on asbestosFareham College has been fined £23,000 after UNISON reps revealed the college had for years required staff to employ unsafe work methods with asbestos. In addition to the fine for four breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act, Fareham Magistrates Court also ordered the college to pay costs of £18,000 to the HSE. This case was brought to light by Alan Phillips and Peter White, two UNISON health and safety stewards. "Many maintenance staff were required to drill, cut and move these tiles in the course of their work over 20 years without any protective equipment and clearly were exposed to asbestos dust/fibres," says a statement from the UNISON Southern Region. The court heard that Fareham College "fell far short of its responsibilities to its employees."
Claimant stabbed to death in benefits officeA 25-year-old woman has been stabbed to death in a Slough benefits office a fortnight after staff there held a second 48 hour strike as part of a national protest over the safety of the new open-plan Jobcentre Plus offices. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) says the woman died after being stabbed three times by a man while being interviewed by a staff member. Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary elect, said: "It's shocking that something like this has to happen to show the government that PCS members are right to fear for their own and the public's safety in the new open-plan Jobcentre Plus offices. PCS want to work with Jobcentre Plus management and government to ensure that people can receive a combined benefits and job-seeking service in a safe environment. Management refused to go to arbitration and will not work with PCS to find a solution that guarantees the safety of the staff and public in Jobcentre Plus offices, despite staff taking 300,000 days of strike action." Understaffing and fire peril remains at immigration centreUnions have highlighted continuing dangers from fire and understaffing at Yarl's Wood immigration centre, scene last week of a major riot and fire. The Fire Brigades Union says that asylum seekers held at the Group 4-run centre are still at risk. Bedfordshire Fire Authority, backed by the FBU, claimed in 2000 that Yarl’s Wood was 'a disaster waiting to happen.' Andy Gilchrist, FBU general secretary said that as a temporary safety measure 'the detainees that are remaining in Yarl’s Wood should be immediately released…Group 4 flatly refused to put a sprinkler system into these premises to cut their costs.' The FBU is backing a call for an independent public inquiry into the fire safety risk. Staffing levels are set to be reviewed after unions inside the centre voiced fears for workers' safety. Union leaders who met with centre operator Group 4 said they had won assurances that staffing levels would double and that detainees would be held in smaller groups in the future. OTHER NEWSEurope vote could slash work exposure to asbestosThe TUC has welcomed a decision of the influential EU Economic and Social Committee to recommend lower limits on exposure to asbestos for repair, maintenance and removal workers. The Committee, made up of workers, employers and consumers across Europe, is automatically consulted on all EU legislation, and has been considering the draft directive on workers' protection from asbestos. The Committee, at the prompting of trade union representatives, went beyond a Council of Ministers proposal, and agreed changes to take account of short-term peak exposures. The changes could reduce maximum exposures facing UK workers by two-thirds. The Economic and Social Committee can only advise the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, but has a lot more influence with the European Parliament. A final vote on the European Parliament's recommendations is due in April, with the Employment and Social Affairs Committee concluding its work in March. The final directive is likely to be adopted this summer.
Delays to vibration directive are slammed by TGWUThe Transport and General Workers’ Union has reacted angrily to a decision to delay implementation of new vibration controls on workplace agricultural and forestry equipment. Barry Leathwood, head of the TGWU’s rural and agricultural workers’ group, welcomed the EU Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive, newly approved by the EU Council of Ministers, but said the decision to delay implementation of the new safety limits for agriculture and forestry equipment was 'disgraceful'. He added: 'Agricultural workers in this most dangerous of industries are not asking for special treatment - if vibration from working long hours on tractors and other work equipment is a danger to their health, then measures to safeguard their health should apply equally to all workers.' 'Ploughman’s crunch' is a well-known lower back condition among farmworkers. Agricultural and forestry equipment will be covered by the new law from 2013. In other work areas, the law will be phased in from 2004, taking full effect in 2010.
Fire whistles halt work at millFire safety officers have halted work at a Stockport mill after employees were given whistles as makeshift fire alarms. Managers at Vernon Mill say engineers have tried to fix the fire alarm several times without success. Greater Manchester Fire Brigade discovered the makeshift system during a safety inspection. Fire officers say the issue was so serious there were immediate concerns for the safety of workers. The mill will remain closed until fire safety officers agree it is safe for workers to return. Experts study risks of dozy driversResearchers examining the problem of drivers falling asleep at the wheel are hoping to flag down thousands of Scotland's bus drivers for a study. Experts at Edinburgh University believe that dozing off on the roads has overtaken drink-driving as a cause of fatal accidents. Now researchers are seeking the help of 3,000 bus drivers as they study a condition known as sleep apnoea, a serious condition in which airflow from the nose and mouth to the lungs is restricted during sleep. Transport and General Workers’ Union officials share the researchers’ concern over the link between sleep apnoea and serious accidents. Graham Stevenson, the TGWU’s national organiser for the transport sector, said: "We are happy to co-operate with Edinburgh University’s research project, since it will ultimately assist in raising the driving standards of all road users." Driver fatigue is estimated to be responsible for up to a fifth of all accidents on motorways and trunk routes in the UK, as well as one in 10 accidents on minor roads. INTERNATIONALAustralia: Dangerous work is no place for our kidsUnions in the Australian state of Victoria are demanding a ban on the employment of children in the state's four most dangerous industries, agriculture, transport and storage, construction and manufacturing, with penalties of up to one year in jail for transgressors. A Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC) submission to a state government consultation recommends a total ban on the employment of those under 13 years, that under 15's are banned from employment in the four industries with the worst health and safety record and that those in the 15 to 18 year age bracket are banned from working in jobs that are likely to jeopardise their health, safety and morals. Australia/Ireland: Taking on the workplace bulliesUnion and official agencies in Australia and Ireland are considering new codes to tackle workplace bullying. An official bullying task force in Ireland has recommending issuing new Codes of Practice under the Industrial Relations Act; the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act; and the Employment Equality Act. Ireland’s unions, employers and the safety authority HSA have also agreed a dignity at work charter. In the Australian state of Victoria the official WorkCover Authority has released for public comment a proposed Code of Practice for the prevention of bullying and violence in the workplace. Union organisation the Victorian Trades Hall Council is encouraging union members to participate in this public comment process.
China: Shaanxi gold miners contract acute pneumoconiosisMedical tests have established 32 migrant miners in the Chener gold mine in China’s mid-western province of Shaanxi have occupational pneumoconiosis, an incurable condition caused by dust scarring the lungs. The number represents a startlingly high proportion of the mine's total of 44 workers. The affected miners, average age 32 years, had between three and seven years employment in the mine, suggesting conditions in the mine were so bad they developed the condition at a greatly accelerated pace. China: Thirteen officials punished for mine explosionHunan Province's Safety Inspection Department says 13 officials had received disciplinary actions after they were found responsible for the explosion that killed 11 miners in the Luanyi coal mine last December. The investigation found that illegal and dangerous operations caused the fatal accident. Ireland: Official stress prevention campaign plannedIreland’s Health and Safety Authority has announced details of a major campaign aimed at preventing workplace stress, to kick off with a major national conference in Dublin on the 5-6 March and end with the European Safety Week in October. Under the banner "Workplace Stress - It's time for Solutions", the campaign will also include a nationwide series of seminars on stress prevention, guidelines on stress prevention and an innovative "Work Positive" manual 'which is geared at employees managing the risk of workplace stress with their organisation.' The campaign will also include a good practice award scheme, which will recognise innovative practical solutions to work-related stress. South Africa: Union challenges asbestos compensation threatThe National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Msauli Asbes, the soon to be delisted Mpumalanga asbestos mining company, have met in a bid to avert possible litigation initiated by former workers seeking compensation. The union says it may resort to a court interdict preventing Msauli from liquidating without compensating workers who had contracted asbestos-related diseases. The union has accused Msauli, which owns the African Chrysotile Asbestos mine, of being responsible for the asbestos diseases of about 400 of its former workers. Glen Mpufane, the NUM's health and safety officer, said the union wanted to know if anything would be left for the claimants after dividends were paid to shareholders. "Litigation will be expensive for both parties, and we also kept in mind that this company is delisting and could be gone soon," said Mpufane. USA: Teen farm workers risk on-the-job injuriesUS farms may be one of the most dangerous places to work - especially for teens, survey findings suggest. One in 10 Arkansas teenagers studied said they had suffered injuries during farm work that required medical attention. A report in the February issue the Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society found that about 10 per cent of Arkansas high school students in agricultural education programmes had suffered an injury severe enough to require medical attention. An additional review of state newspapers from the past 10 years found reports of at least 84 fatalities and 145 injuries among farmworkers younger than 21- which the authors suggest probably underestimates the true number. RESOURCESNHS Plus websiteThe new NHS Plus website is up and running and has information on: legal responsibilities for employers; health and safety legislation; workplace illnesses and ailments; the benefits of occupational health services; and risk assessments and cost studies. NHS Plus was launched by the government in November and 'is a network of occupational health services based in NHS hospitals and providing services to NHS Staff and to the private sector.'
EVENTSOnly newly announced events, events next week and very important events will be listed here in future. But there is a comprehensive listing of health and safety events on the TUC website - bookmark it for easy reference! International RSI Day conference, 28 FebruaryWork-related upper limb disorders under the spotlight - a national conference organised by GMB in conjunction with Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council to mark International RSI Awareness Day, 28 February 2002. Venue: Mackworth College, Derby. Agenda and registration form. Further information from Jake Jackson, GMB East Midlands health and safety officer. Asbestos and the law conference, Liverpool, 7 MarchThe Asbestos and the law conference features prominent speakers from asbestos campaign, legal, statutory and other organisations. All proceeds to Liverpool and District Victims of Asbestos Support Group. Venue: No7 Harrington St Chambers, Liverpool. Fee £250. Application form. Further details: Liverpool and District Victims of Asbestos Support Group, 3 Oriel Close, Water Street, Liverpool L2 8UQ. HSC/E education open meeting, Birmingham, 7 MarchSEAC and HIFEAC, the two HSC advisory committees dealing with education (the Schools Education Advisory Committee and the Higher and Further Education Advisory Committee) are holding a joint open meeting on Thursday, 7 March at the NASUWT headquarters, Hillscourt Education Centre, Rose Hill, Rednal, Birmingham from 10.30am to 3pm. Attendance and lunch are free - to apply for tickets, contact Nikki Davis at HSE, 39 Baddow Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0HL (tel: 01245 706229). Women’s health and safety conference, Gateshead, 8 MarchAn International Women’s Day Conference focusing on women’s working conditions. Organised by the Northern TUC’s Health and Safety Forum and sponsored by Thompsons, it takes place in Gateshead Civil Centre from 10am to 3pm and will be chaired by Northern TUC Chair Gill Hale (UNISON). Joyce Quin MP will be speaking. Register for free by contacting Melanie Lowden or phoning 0191 232 3175. TUC Beat bullying at work seminar, Glasgow, 26 MarchThe latest in the regional series of seminars on bullying will take place from 9.30am to 3pm in Glasgow. Registration costs £11.75 for trade unions and £23.50 for others - you can register on the web, email Liz Wood or phone 020 7467 1250. Asbestos - it’s still a killer, London, 10 AprilSpeakers: Mick Clapham MP, Convenor of the Parliamentary Panel on Asbestos; Nancy Tait, Occupational and Environmental Disease Association; Nigel Bryson, GMB; Pauline Bonney, whose husband John died of asbestos cancer. 6.30pm to 9pm, Room 3E, University of London Union, Malet St, London WC1. Nearest tube: Goodge St, Euston Sq or Euston. For further information email the London Hazards Centre. GMB managing asbestos conference, London, 16 AprilThe GMB is holding a conference, Managing asbestos in buildings: the new challenge, at Congress House on Tuesday, 16 April. It will be commercially run and is targeted at housing managers, health and safety managers, housing associations and building facilities companies. Price £150 for the day. Further details: Nigel Bryson, GMB health and environment director. 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. Hazards 2002, National Hazards Conference, 6-8 SeptemberThe National Hazards Conference will be held in Manchester for the second year running. Further details from Greater Manchester Hazards Centre. There is a financial appeal to keep registration costs down, backed by the TUC. 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. USEFUL 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 and What’s On in health and safety.TUC courses for safety repsNEW COURSES FOR APRIL TO JULY:Wales (also as pdf) Scotland North West East Midlands West Midlands South East and East Anglia (also as pdf)January to March:Wales South West North West East Midlands West Midlands ScotlandFor details of courses in the Northern, Yorkshire and Humberside regions, contact the TUC Regional Education OfficerSubscribe 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. Sometimes they are temporarily offline (so try again!) or change so that the links no longer work. Privacy statementInformation provided by you will be used by the TUC for the effective administration of this site and to record user patterns. We will not disclose any details to any third party, except to any service provider managing or administering the site on the TUC’s behalf. We may contact you with details of TUC initiatives, services and products but will never pass your e-mail address or other details to another organisation, other than our service providers for management and administration purposes. |
Newsletter (3,600 words) issued 23 Feb 2002
