date: 23 December 2002 embargo: 00.01 hrs, Tuesday 7 January 2003

Attention: North East media

Back strains and bullying worse in Northern region, TUC safety survey reveals

Workers in the Northern region have the highest levels of concern about bullying of any region in Great Britain, and the second highest concerns about back strains, according to a TUC survey of workplace union safety reps published today (Tuesday).

But the TUC survey 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 the region were:

• overwork and stress - 55% of workplaces;

• back strains - 35% of workplaces - the second highest level of concern in Great Britain, and matched by concerns about the handling of heavy loads, where concern was greater in the Northern region than anywhere else;

• repetitive strain injuries (RSI) - 34% of workplaces;

• display screen equipment (DSE) - 33% of workplaces; and

• slips and trips on the level - 30% of workplaces.

Northern Regional Secretary Kevin Rowan said:

'Workers in the north have a heavy load to carry at work, and they shouldn’t have to put up with the worst levels of bullying too. All the modern day workplace hazards are there in the Northern region. But 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 the Northern region were more concerned about bullying than anywhere else in Great Britain - 40% above the national average.

• 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:

342 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 Kevin Rowan on 07766 250074

Press release (600 words) issued 7 Jan 2003