Risks

issue no 27 - 10 November 2001

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 2,500 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.

FEATURE: Stress at work

Long hours are stressing out workers

More than 50 per cent of working people are suffering from stress mainly due to long hours, a survey has shown. The survey findings, published on 7 November, National Stress Awareness Day, show the problem is increasing, with one in four workers needing to take time off to recover from the illness. The survey by insurer Royal & Sun Alliance also found many people struggled to maintain a decent balance between work and home lives. Hugh Robertson, head of health and safety at public sector union UNISON, commented: 'It is in the insurers' best interests to cut the cost of stress by helping to prevent it… they have a responsibility to ensure that the employers they insure are putting their house in order, rather than allowing staff to work long hours, endure bullying and suffer bad management.' He added: 'By asking employers to show their risk assessments and action plans, insurance companies can help avoid the high compensation payments that we have seen in recent years by preventing stress-related illnesses.' UNISON has recently secured six-figure compensation payouts for stress victims.

Charity staff 'work long hours for little reward'

Voluntary sector union MSF says staff employed by charities are putting in long hours for little financial reward and few holidays. MSF national officer Chris Ball said the union’s poll of workers in 1,000 charities found "employers are slow to promote equality and family friendly policies, sometimes lack basic health and safety policies, expect staff to work overtime without time off in lieu or extra pay, break working time regulations and a great deal more." The union said its poll found some employers are not giving their staff legally required written contracts of employment. MSF is calling for action from the government and charities to improve working conditions.

HSE stresses stress prevention

The HSE launched new stress guides on 7 November, National Stress Awareness Day. A leaflet, "Work-related stress: A short guide,' targets small firms and covers assessment and causes of stress, employers’ duties and stress prevention. HSE research found 5 million workers say that their job is very stressful, and about 500,000 experience work-related stress at levels that make them ill. This leads to 6.5 million working days lost each year, at an annual cost to society of £3.8 billion. It is the second biggest cause of occupational ill health generally, and the biggest cause of absence amongst non-manual workers. HSE also relaunched its managers’ guide on mental health at work.

  • Single copies of "Work-related stress: A short guide' are free. "Mental well-being in the workplace: a resource pack for management training and development" is £25.00. Both from HSE Books

UNION NEWS

Council suspends RSI victim

Public sector union UNISON is backing a city hall worker who suffers from repetitive strain injury and who has been suspended amid claims council officials refused to incorporate her ergonomic desk into a new office layout. Lisa Taylor, who was suspended on 15 October, is due to face a disciplinary committee at Birmingham City Council later this month. The 34-year-old says she suffers back and neck problems and needs the curved desks to avoid twisting. Twisting causes her pain when moving from her computer to a customer. UNISON has called for her suspension to be lifted immediately and for the office to be modified.

UCATT scaffolders safety drive goes national

Construction union UCATT is launching a national campaign to organise Britain's 17,500 registered scaffolders. Trade journal Construction News reports a national Scaffolding Task Force has been set up and will be run by eight regional union officials. Scaffolders are being encouraged to join in an attempt to improve site health and safety, working conditions and wage rates. The move is an extension of UCATT’s successful campaign to sign up scaffolders in London. This resulted in nearly 2,000 workers joining the union.

  • UCATT regional campaign contacts are: London, Mick Dooley 020 7622 2362; Scotland, Frank McKenna 0141 420 2880; Wales, Tim Hegarty 029 2049 8664; North East, John Cosgrove 0191 477 8980; North West, Andy Fisher 01925 639 710; Yorkshire, Robert Morris 0114 261 9969; Midlands, John Cunningham 0121 622 6449; South West, Colin Patient 01179 667 649.

Union leader to head construction training drive

A safety training drive in construction, one of Britain’s most dangerous industries, is to be headed by union leader George Brumwell. The Construction Industry Training Board announced last week that the UCATT general secretary is to chair a new high-level strategic committee dealing with health and safety training. CITB Chairman Hugh Try said: 'George Brumwell has a real passion for and commitment to health and safety issues, and we are very keen to bring this to bear in the training context.' George Brumwell said: 'Health and safety training is something the industry as a whole must get behind for the benefit of everyone, whether on site or in the boardroom. Training is the most effective way of building up awareness in individuals. Ultimately it’s that personal awareness of risks, and then of where the responsibilities lie to tackle them, which underpins all kinds of other initiatives.' Mr Brumwell is also a TUC General Council member and a member of the HSC. The new committee includes representatives from industry bodies and from construction unions UCATT and TGWU.

Benefits office stabbing shows union safety fears are real

The civil service union PCS says its claim that workplace safety fears are not being taken seriously have been borne out by a stabbing incident at the Leyton Benefits office in east London. The union says a customer stabbed a security guard, and was only disarmed when another customer threw a chair at him and he fled. The office remained closed for the rest of the day and the following day staff at the office refused to work in the unscreened Employment Service area of the office. Union spokesman Frank Bonner said: "The office should not have been opened at all until a new risk assessment had been completed, which is required following any serious incident. Our members were really shaken up by this, and of course we’re very concerned for the security guard. His attacker needs to be apprehended before he can strike again." The attack came as 2,300 members began a third week of strike action over the removal of security screens in the new Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices throughout Britain, and a ballot of 60,000 PCS members for further action commenced.

  • Speak out: Send messages of support to the PCS strikers via the central strike room, fax number 0113 200 5302

  • Demonstrate: Brent UNISON and PCS demonstration for safety at work, Harlesden House 161-163 High Street, Harlesden London NW10 4TJ. Friday 16 November from 7.00am

OTHER NEWS

Two die in South Wales steel plant explosion

Two workers have died, six are on life-support and nine others have been hospitalised with burns after a series of explosions at a South Wales steel works. A major fire broke out in a blast furnace at the Corus steel plant in Port Talbot. Corus say a serious escape of molten iron took place during maintenance of a furnace by contractors. Local Councillor Clive Owen said the furnace was due to be relined in 2004 and contractors had been working on it as an interim measure. Michael Leahy, General Secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, cut short a conference in Australia and is in the process of returning to the UK. He said the trade union would be staging its own investigation.

  • A major incident has been declared and a casualty bureau for concerned members of the public has been set up. The number is 01656 869 499

'Satisfying' call centre opens

A new £26m Cable & Wireless call centre boasting extra facilities for its staff has opened in Manchester. C&W says its 400 new workers will use the latest voice and internet protocol (IP) call-handling technology. TUC research has shown some UK call centres are stressful places to work, with workers constantly monitored in what is a boring yet demanding environment. However, a C&W company spokesperson said: "Developed through continual consultation with employees, the contact centre revolutionises the working environment and with rewarding career prospects promises higher job satisfaction." The company says new facilities include a gym, relaxation area, restaurant, internet cafes, ergonomically-designed furniture and technology to avoid repetitive strain injury (RSI).

Cape plc opens talks with South African asbestos victims

A "constructive dialogue" has been launched between UK-based asbestos multinational Cape plc and British lawyers acting for victims of the company's South African operations. This is the first hint of progress in the long battle to win compensation for the South Africans. Cape and the victims' English solicitors, Leigh Day & Co, announced "the case management hearing… scheduled to commence on 5th November 2001, has been postponed for 14 days as the parties wish to engage in constructive dialogue. Both parties believe this will be a positive step forward." The move comes just days after a management shake-up at Cape. On 1 November, the Montpellier Group increased their stake to 29.9 per cent, making it Cape's biggest shareholder. Montpellier's managing director, Paul Sellars became the company’s new chair. Fred Higgs of international union federation ICEM wrote recently to Montpellier and other major shareholders, pressing for 'a just and equitable settlement' ( Risks 26 ).

Joinery firm fined £35,000 over death

The owner of a joinery firm in London's East End, where a worker died after being crushed by poorly stored timbers, has been fined £35,000. Mark Bastienne, 33, an employee of K and D Joinery, died after timber weighing half a ton fell on him on 10 July last year.

Shipping firm and director accused of Simon Jones’ death

A university student was killed 'in two seconds' when his head was grabbed by a metal excavation claw, a corporate manslaughter trial at the Old Bailey has heard. Simon Jones, 24, of Banbury had started work as a casual labourer at Shoreham Harbour, West Sussex, only two hours before. Shipping company Euromin Ltd and general manager Richard Martell were accused by Patrick O'Connor, QC, prosecuting, of killing Mr Jones through 'gross negligence''. Euromin, which is based at Shoreham Docks, and Martell deny charges of manslaughter. Euromin also denies three breaches of health and safety regulations relating to Mr Jones's death on May 24, 1998.

  • Event: TUC/CCA conference, Law enforcement and corporate accountability, 21 November 2001

TERRORIST ATTACKS

USA: Safety concerns at ground zero

Construction and emergency workers toiling at the 'ground zero' World Trade Center site in New York are suffering horrific injury rates. In the first three weeks after the attack, firefighters, construction workers and others sifting through the two million ton pile of debris sought medical assistance 6,342 times, for problems including broken bones, burns and less serious injuries. In the last three weeks, that number was 1,297, with 384 visits last week. There are also concerns about exposure to the chemical cocktail in the smoke still issuing from WTC fires. There have been no safety prosecutions, despite official concerns, as emergency sites are outside the scope of safety watchdog OSHA.

USA: Occupational health response to terrorism

Responding to 'the growing threat of bioterrorism in America's workplaces, and the need to have emergency preparedness/disaster plans either updated or developed,' the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses has launched a new web resource for occupational and environmental health professionals. The 'Occupational health response to terrorism' web pages cover bioterrorism, emergency preparedness and disaster planning, and 'the role of the occupational health nurse in the wake of the tragedy.'

USA: New protocol on postal anthrax risk

A task force has reached 'tentative agreement' on US Postal Service safety and medical procedures to combat workplace anthrax risks, postal union APWU has reported. In addition, the task force has requested that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) develop a standard prophylactic - preventive medicine - protocol to ensure uniform treatment of exposed postal workers throughout the country. An APWU resolution says the union will take measures to 'ensure that the Postal Service lives up to its obligation and responsibility to provide safe working conditions for postal workers in postal facilities and to ensure the safety of the mail.'

UK: Flour samples 'could spark anthrax alerts'

A union official has warned free samples of flour being posted to thousands of UK homes could be mistaken for anthrax. The Communications Workers Union has described the timing of a two-week contract to deliver video-sized boxes of Glutafin Flour Mix as insensitive. In a letter to union members, CWU assistant secretary Kevin Shaw said: "In our view this contract is inappropriate and badly timed in view of the concerns of postal workers in relation to the anthrax alert. It may also result in unnecessary security alerts." Consignia said it did not expect any scares as a result of the mailing.

INTERNATIONAL

Papua New Guinea: Work stops after workplace rapes

Union members at Papua New Guinea's national airline have ended a work stoppage after management agreed to address security concerns and to compensate four female ground staff raped at work. Most of the National Airline Employees Association’s members at Air Niugini’s Port Moresby base stopped work after the incident. The women were gang raped after the Air Niugini bus carrying them to the start of their early shift was hijacked by eight armed men. Union president Paul Balamus accused management of 'pure negligence' for failing to act on earlier warnings. He stressed that the workers had the right to stop work under PNG law as the incident was a safety and not an industrial matter.

Romania: Overworked man collapses from coffee overdose

An overworked Romanian man ended up in hospital after drinking more than three litres of coffee to keep him going. The Romanian suffered respiratory shock, fainting and an increased heartbeat. Vasile Harnea, 44, said he had drunk the coffee as he had lots of work to do.

USA: Illness persists in Exxon Valdez clean up crews

Clean up crews who worked the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill are still suffering serious symptoms they say are caused chemical exposures at that time. "There appear to be hundreds, maybe even thousands, of workers that were affected negatively, probably by their exposure to chemicals used in the clean up process," said Anchorage attorney Michael Schneider. At least two dozen workers involved in the clean up of the worst oil spill in US history have already gone to court with toxic injury claims. Among workers' compensation cases filed by oil spill workers, 34 claimed poisoning, while 264 claimed respiratory problems and 19 had injuries to the nervous system.

RESOURCES

Union guide on homophobic bullying at school

Teachers’ union NUT has produced a new guide to the prevention of homophobic bullying in schools.

London Hazards Centre

Occupational and environmental advice agency, the London Hazards Centre, has made its on-line health, safety and environment database publicly available. The Centre’s easily understood, cutting edge information on topics including RSI, asbestos, chemicals, sick building syndrome, the law, VDU work and construction has all been produced with safety reps in mind.

  • For free access visit the LHC website - for the LHC database click on "Online resources" on the home page, then click on "Haztext". For more information, email the London Hazards Centre or call 020 7794 5999

EVENTS

Only 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!

No excuse - beat bullying at work seminars, November

TUC organised seminars aimed at union and workplace reps, employers and managers, intended to help make everyone take workplace bullying seriously. The seminars will take place in Manchester on 14 November, Bradford on 19 November and Leeds on 23 November. Further dates are being arranged for the Midlands and London. £11.75 TUC member organisations; £23.50 employers. Complete the registration form on the web or contact Liz Wood, TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS.Tel: 020 7467 1250. Fax: 020 7467 1265. Price: For more background on TUC’s bullying at work campaign, see the Hazards Psychoterror! Factsheet.

Law enforcement and corporate accountability, 21 November

The 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.

Workers' Memorial Day 2002, 28 April

TUC 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.

European Week of Health and Safety 2002, 14-21 October

Next year’s week will take place in Britain from 14 October, on the theme of stress.

USEFUL LINKS

Visit 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 reps

January to March:

South East (NEW!) Wales North West South West East Midlands West Midlands Scotland

September to December:

Wales Scotland Southern and Eastern (plus COSHH Essentials courses) South West North West Northern Yorkshire and Humberside

Subscribe 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.

Disclaimer

Although 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 statement

Information 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 (3,500 words) issued 10 Nov 2001

This page http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-3980-f0.cfm
printed 23 May 2012 at 08:28 hrs by 38.107.179.230