Risksissue no 46 - 23 March 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 3,500 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. ACTIONUnion Inspection Notices: Get trained!The TUC launched Union Inspection Notices (UINs) in late 2001, and we are now providing pilot training courses for safety reps. Some of the pilots are part of Stage I and II courses, others are stand-alone courses. As well as providing us with feedback on the training courses (and some practical examples of UINs that safety reps have actually served), safety reps on the course will be asked to take part in follow up research later this year so that we can assess the impact and performance of UINs. The results of that research will inform the TUC's approach to legislation, for example in terms of requiring employers to respond. If you or any safety reps you know would like to take part in the pilot training courses and the follow up research, please check with your union on how to get on a course. And if there aren't any that are suitable just now, then rest assured that once the pilots have been evaluated, courses will be available as a normal part of TUC safety rep training provision. UNION NEWSUnion recruits 6,000 new members by standing up for safetyA lengthy industrial dispute has resulted in the civil service union PCS winning safety improvements and 6,000 new members. In a letter to members, the union says: "By raising the PCS profile as an active, campaigning union, we have won 6,000 new members." PCS job centre workers had walked out in a series of strikes prompted by management’s insistence that protective screens would not be used in the new Job Centre Plus offices (Risks 39), despite recent violent attacks including stabbings and a ball and chain attack. The PCS letter to members says: 'We can now report that, following the PCS campaign, a draft agreement has been achieved with Jobcentre Plus management to end the dispute. The draft agreement contains a number of valuable and important safeguards for staff.' PCS negotiators are recommending members accept the agreement in a forthcoming ballot. Euro-parliament moves to protect workers from asbestosThe European parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee has voted to cut in half the maximum exposure for asbestos proposed by the European Commission in its new Asbestos Directive. TUC general secretary John Monks said: "This is a major step forward in protecting workers engaged in repair, refurbishment and demolition. All asbestos exposures are dangerous, but because of the millions of tonnes left in Europe's buildings, workers will continue to be exposed for many years to come. But MEPs have made it clear that they will take action to keep those exposures as low as possible." The Commission is proposing a new exposure limit of 0.1 fibres per cubic centimetre (f/cm3) for an eight hour period (the UK's current levels are 0.3 f/cm3 over four hours for white asbestos and 0.2 f/cm3 over four hours for all other forms - the latter being equivalent to the Commission proposal). The crucial amendment put forward by Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne would change that to a four hour reference period, effectively halving the exposure allowed (and cutting the UK white asbestos limit by two-thirds). Europe’s unions welcome proposed agency worker lawUnions across Europe have welcomed the proposals for new laws providing agency workers rights to equal treatment adopted by the EU Commission. TUC general secretary John Monks said: 'This is an overdue step after the employers at European level had blocked an agreement.' The use of agency workers is more widespread in the UK than elsewhere in the EU. Eighteen per cent of UK temporary workers are now agency workers, compared with just 7 per cent eight years ago. The Europe-wide union group ETUC said the Commission had 'sent a clear signal to those who want to roll back social and employment rights under the guise of modernisation through deregulation.' Teachers demand cut in workloadTeacher unions are threatening a fresh bout of industrial action over demands for a 35 hour week and have stepped up their calls for more cash to fund improvements to teacher contracts which would reduce their workload. The executives of the three largest teaching unions - NUT, NASUWT and ATL - have this week endorsed the same motion underlining their support for conditions similar to those for Scotland, which include a limited working week and specified limits on contact time with pupils. The motion will be debated at each annual conference over Easter. NUT general secretary Doug McAvoy said: "If the government doesn't announce significant new resources from the review then teachers will come back from their holidays feeling even more demoralised." Peter Smith, general secretary of ATL, added: "The burden of excessive workload remains our priority.' Eamonn O'Kane, NASUWT general secretary (designate) said: "Let there be no doubt that teachers are determined to press ahead with action if the issue of workload fails to be resolved." TUC research published this week found that across the entire workforce over 5.5 million British workers now do unpaid overtime, averaging more than 7 hours a week. The total value of unpaid overtime done by British workers is £28bn a year. Daily diet of violence for teachersViolent attacks against teachers by pupils are being reported at the rate of one a day, says teachers' union NASUWT. "Teachers are expected to put up with the type of behaviour that if it happened anywhere else would be treated as a criminal act," said Nigel de Gruchy, NASUWT general secretary. "We need to get these disruptive youngsters out of school more quickly - and there needs to be enough alternative places for these pupils." He added there has been an upsurge in requests from teachers wanting to hold ballots to refuse to teach disruptive pupils. Statistics on legal proceedings following assaults on the union's members show that there has been a drop in cases since a peak in 1997. Last year, legal action was taken in 23 cases, compared with 57 cases in 1997. OTHER NEWSBullying managers 'destroy their own workplaces'A psychologist claims bullying bosses are mini Mussolinis who destroy their workplaces. Dr Mark Van Vugt, from Southampton University, says autocratic managers can force their employees to perform - but only at the price of losing them. He carried out an experiment in which a specially trained stand-in boss adopted different management styles - laissez-faire, democratic and autocratic - at three fast-food restaurants, each employing about 12 staff. Dr Van Vugt told the British Psychological Society's conference in Blackpool that employees were, unsurprisingly, happy with the laissez-faire boss - but that their performance levels fell. The autocratic and democratic managers achieved similar performance standards, but when the boss became a bully, between 60 and 70 per cent of his staff told the researchers they wanted to leave. Dr Van Vugt concluded: "Dictatorships don't work." Four in 10 office staff 'allergic to work'Four in 10 office workers become sick because of allergies caused by work. The British Allergy Foundation says there's a "mini-epidemic of allergies" with around seven million employees suffering because of office-related problems. Symptoms include headaches, lethargy, breathing problems and itchy skin. All of the symptoms can be caused by problems with air-conditioning, computers, fax machines and carpets. Muriel Simmons, spokeswoman for the British Allergy Foundation, said: "This is a growing problem that is only just beginning to receive attention. Employers should realise they are forcing staff to work in unproductive conditions that result in a loss of money. Allergy sufferers need to understand office machinery can make symptoms Backbenchers press for Government action on health and safetyLiberal Democrats and twelve Labour backbenchers took the Government to task in a major three hour debate on health and safety on 14 March. They backed TUC calls for a new safety bill to include stronger penalties and new measures on rehabilitation and safety reps’ rights, corporate killing legislation, and more HSE resources. Meanwhile, the Conservative front bench spokesperson Geoffrey Clinton-Brown MP caused uproar by backing wild claims that white asbestos is no more dangerous than talcum powder and that there was no need for European moves to restrict vibration, despite reports from Labour MPs of huge caseloads of vibration-induced diseases.
Pressure grows for corporate crime lawLabour and Conservative backbenchers have added their voices to calls for stricter controls on dangerous employers on the eve of a Parliamentary reception where families of people killed at work or in work-related disasters met MPs. The families, backed by the TUC and the Centre for Corporate Accountability, pressed MPs and Peers for a new Safety Bill, a law against corporate killing and more resources for the HSE (see campaign launch). In the debate, Tory MP Tony Baldry said of Simon Jones, killed on his first day of work at Shoreham docks (Risks 30): 'I believe that Simon's death and the subsequent acquittal of the company's general manager, James Martell, has made clear fundamental failures of the law when it comes to safety in the workplace.' He backed TUC proposals for all deaths at work to be treated as potential manslaughter cases until proven otherwise (TUC briefing): 'There are far too many deaths at work and we need to ensure that actions are taken that make deaths at work a crime that does not pay,' he added. Labour MP Rob Marris said: 'I therefore seek assurances from the Minister on joint training, initial investigation of manslaughter, organisational investigation and site access.' Health and safety minister Alan Whitehead responded: 'We envisage that the introduction of the new offence will encourage companies that have so far failed to do so to take their health and safety responsibilities much more seriously.'
Commons hears calls for better asbestos compensationOn 19 March, the House of Commons debated the asbestos compensation crisis in Scotland. Labour MP John Robertson demanded action by the Government to improve compensation to asbestos-related disease victims, including a national scheme for those affected by the Fairchild ruling and pressure on the insurance industry to speed up payments due in the wake of the collapse last year of insurance company Chester Street. Scottish Secretary of State Helen Liddell MP told the House that she had set a deadline for progress to be made on post-Chester Street payments four weeks from the date of the debate, and agreed to explore the possibility of interim payments for victims.
Lords ponder the health service’s costly skin problemOver 750 National Health Service staff retired with work-related skin problems last year, the House of Lords was told. In a debate instigated by Baroness Gibson, previously Anne Gibson, a TUC member of the HSC, government minister Lord Hunt of Kings Heath said: 'The extra cost of retirement through ill-health in the NHS has been calculated at £60,000 per employee retired. Of the 4,482 staff who left the service on grounds of ill-health during 2000-01, some 1.7 per cent were due to skin allergies, some of which may have been attributable to latex', with an unknown amount of latex-related asthma. The Minister pledged that the Government was to 'reissue guidance to the NHS, thus drawing employers' attention to the problem and to the alternatives to latex that are now available. The guidance stresses the need for staff and management to work together to assess the risks in each case.'
HSE’s trichloroethylene warningThe HSE is warning employers about the cancer risk from the common industrial solvent trichloroethylene. HSE says trichloroethylene, often known as "trike," is now classified as a category 2 carcinogen, which means it may cause cancer. It says employers should consider using an alternative solvent or cleaning process or, if this is not possible, enclose the degreasing process as far as possible. Prior to this, HSE had since 1993 been explicitly recommending trichloroethylene use as an "ozone friendly" alternative to trichloroethane. In February 2000, the chemical's manufacturer, Dow, failed in a bid to stop Australia's chemical standards body NICNAS labelling trichloroethylene as a carcinogen and mutagen.
HSC wants to talk about setting better exposure limitsAn HSC discussion document contains proposals that it says would make it easier for firms to meet their legal duty to control workers’ exposure to chemicals. The proposals include replacing the existing division of limits into two types with a single limit, revising the process of setting occupational exposure limits (OELs) and ideas for linking them to advice on good practice. Calling for comments, HSE’s health directorate boss Sandra Caldwell said: "Should we link OELs to good practice advice that helps firms decide how to control chemicals? Should we change the way we set OELs?' The discussion document has been prepared by a working group of the HSC’s Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances (ACTS), which is comprised of representatives from industry, trade unions and independent experts. HSE-backed research carried out in the 1990s showed that industry in general make little use of current guidance.
INTERNATIONALAustralia: Unions demand right of entry after girl is maimedUnions are demanding immediate right of entry provisions in the wake of a 10-year-old girl being mutilated in a Sydney sweatshop. The Textile Clothing and Footwear Union says the restoration of immediate entry rights is the only protection against a repetition of the incident in which Yu Ge, employed by River Island Clothing, had half her right hand and thumb amputated after being caught in a machine. Unions in New South Wales (NSW) have a legal right of immediate access to workplaces on health and safety grounds but, in practice, this relies on rare tip-offs. They cannot enter sweatshops on the off-chance safety regulations are being abused. A recent NSW State Government Sweat Shop Taskforce uncovered a string of clothing industry abuses. Health and safety violations topped a list that also featured evading workers’ compensation payments. Australia: Air traffic controller action on safety and fatigueAir traffic controllers and management have returned to the negotiating table after a strike over working conditions affected hundreds of flights across Australia. A meeting of the air traffic controllers' union, Civil Air, voted to undertake further industrial action if necessary over 'fatigue management' and other issues. The union’s executive secretary Peter McGuane said: "This is about the integrity of the system. We want to properly introduce fatigue management into the system so that we don't have a tired and stressed workforce." Canada: Campaigners condemn lax passive smoking lawUnions and anti-smoking campaigners in Canada have condemned an employer-friendly second hand smoke law introduced in British Columbia. 'This government is prepared to sacrifice the health and lives of hospitality sector workers to cosy up to a small number of hospitality employers allied with the interests of big tobacco,' said Jeff Keighley, national representative for the Canadian Auto Workers’ Union, who have 8,000 workers in the hospitality sector. In a report forming part of a legal challenge, the groups condemn the law as too lax, leaving workers at risk from passive smoking.
China: 15 sentenced after tin mine accident leaves 81 deadFifteen people in charge of a tin mine in southwest China where 81 miners died in July have been jailed for corruption. The accident took place in the Longquan tin mine in Nandan county, Guangxi Province. A high level official investigation found serious malpractice and corruption had led to illegal and dangerous operations at the mine. Top managers of the mine were convicted on corruption charges and received jail terms of between two-and-a-half years and 13 years. Three of the convicted were sentenced to 13-year jail terms, one to 11 years and two to 10 years. Malaysia: Women plantation workers poisoned by pesticidesPesticides campaigners in Asia have called for a ban on paraquat and other toxic pesticides as a study reveals exposed plantation workers in Malaysia have suffered poisoning and developed serious medical conditions. Tenaganita and Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN-AP) say those affected are women who sprayed the pesticides. PAN-AP executive director Sarojeni V Rengam explained that the problems faced by the women were highlighted to government agencies, but the situation has not improved. The groups singled out Syngenta, one of the producers of paraquat, claiming that the world largest agribusiness company was irresponsible in its promotion of hazardous pesticides. "We call on organisations, unions and people to support the campaign so that women, in particular women workers in the plantations, will no longer be poisoned by these chemicals," Rengam said. Mexico: Global union report condemns labour rights abusesFierce anti-union discrimination and shocking working conditions in Mexico’s maquiladoras, foreign-owned factories whose products are for export only, have been condemned by the global labour body ICFTU. An ICFTU report says employers, in collusion with local officials, offer 'fierce resistance' to trade unions, adding that 'poor working conditions are commonplace, including handling of chemicals and solvents with no safety equipment.' It says that in maquila plants along the US border, women are often forced to show used sanitary towels as proof that they are not pregnant, with workers found to be pregnant fired or forced to resign. 'The situation in the maquiladoras is often appalling,' stated ICFTU general secretary Guy Ryder, 'and there is much work to be done. We call on President Fox to work in close consultation with the trade unions of Mexico on these issues.'
Sweden: Depressing news on women’s workWomen and men do different jobs, so face different risk factors for work-related mental illness, a Swedish study had found. The report in the International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health found occupational factors such as shift work, job strain, no education at the employer's expense, low occupational pride, low stimulation at work and poor social support were related to poor mental health among women.
USA: Dirty secrets of the clean roomFacing a barrage of criticism from health campaigners, the global semiconductor industry has said it will consider carrying out major long-term studies of silicon chip production hazards. Studies, including recent HSE research at the National Semiconductor plant in Greenock, Scotland, have found problems including unusually high rates of miscarriage, birth defects and cancer (Risks 32). The industry announcement came from the San Jose, California HQ’ed Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) this week, ahead of an article in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health (IJOEH) that will describe semiconductor production is "one of the most chemical-intensive industries ever conceived." IJOEH editor Dr Joe LaDou commented: "I've been involved with the SIA on these issues for over 30 years, and they've traditionally had to be dragged kicking and screaming into health and safety issues. Unfortunately, things don't appear to be any better now." 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! ITF global action for rail safety, 26 MarchOver 200,000 railway workers across the globe will unite later this month to call for better working conditions and improved rail safety standards. The third International Railway Worker's Action Day on Tuesday 26 March 2002 will see railway workers from across 85 unions, in 51 countries, campaign in solidarity for "safety not profit." The event, co-ordinated by the International Transport Worker's Federation (ITF), 'has become a focal point for trade unionists to think globally and act locally.' 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. Employment agencies action, 24 AprilThe Simon Jones Memorial Campaign is calling a national day of action 'against profiteering employment agencies' on Wednesday 24 April 2002, the fourth anniversary of Simon's death. The campaign says: 'We are asking supporters of our campaign across the country and internationally to mark the anniversary of Simon's death by demonstrating, in whatever way they see fit, at an employment agency in their area that profits from the casualisation that killed Simon.'
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 (a TUC list is available) or organise your own. See the Hazards magazine round up of Workers’ Memorial Day resources and the new section of the TUC website. If you are organising an event, let the TUC know by email. 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 Midlands South East and East Anglia (also as pdf) South West (also as pdf)For 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 (4,300 words) issued 23 Mar 2002
