Workers in Yorkshire and Humberside are more worried about chemicals, dusts and machinery than any other workers in Great Britain, but their main concerns are just the same - stress, RSI and back strains, according to a TUC survey of workplace union safety reps published today (Tuesday).

But the TUC survey also finds that nine out of ten unionised employers in the region provide an occupational health service to their workers, which is one of the best records in Britain.

The main issues of concern in Yorkshire and Humberside were:

overwork and stress - 56% of workplaces;

repetitive strain injuries (RSI) - 40% of workplaces - the second highest level of concern in Great Britain (GB);

display screen equipment (DSE) - 34% of workplaces;

back strains - 30% of workplaces; and

slips and trips on the level - 28% of workplaces.

Yorkshire and Humberside Regional TUC Secretary Paul Jagger said:

'We mustn’t be complacent about the ‘old’ workplace hazards just because ‘new’ ones are now the main risk. We need to make sure that the working environment gets safer and healthier. These figures show that workers in unionised companies get a much better deal on health and safety services than other workers, and unions are always ready to extend those benefits to workers in other workplaces.'

Workers in Yorkshire and Humberside were more concerned about chemicals and solvents (25% of workplaces), dusts (22% of workplaces), machinery hazards (18%) and high temperatures (18%) than workers anywhere else in Great Britain.

But local employers were the best in Britain for providing occupational health services for their employees (these services can help with prevention, but also treatment and rehabilitation), with 61% providing in-house services, and a further 30% providing the service through an external provider. It must be noted that these figures only refer to unionised workplaces, where it is known from Health and Safety Executive research that occupational health services are concentrated.

Notes to Editors:

514 safety reps in the region took part in the national survey, which the TUC conducts every two years. The full survey, Health and safety 2002, is published on 7 January as part of the TUC’s Trade Union Trends series. Copies are available priced £30 from TUC Publications (0207 467 1294).

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 8am-10pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Liz Chinchen on 020 7467 1248 or 07699 744115 (pager) or email lchinchen@tuc.org.uk

Other enquiries: Owen Tudor on 07788 715261 (mobile) or otudor@tuc.org.uk or Paul Jagger on 07887 797155

Press release (600 words) issued 7 Jan 2003

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