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Attention: Midlands media

Midlands workers face all the modern plagues, reveals TUC survey

Workers in the Midlands are worried about all the main workplace hazards - stress, RSI, long hours and display screen equipment - according to a TUC survey of workplace union safety reps published today (Tuesday). But the traditional industrial hazards of back strains, noise and vibration still remain.

The main issues of concern in the region were:

• overwork and stress - 55% of workplaces;

• repetitive strain injuries (RSI) - 38% of workplaces;

• long hours - 33% of workplaces, the second highest level in Great Britain;

• back strains - 31% of workplaces; and

• display screen equipment (DSE) - 30% of workplaces.

Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Christine Wood said:

'Workers in the Midlands have caught up with the downside of de-industrialisation - they are now in danger of catching all the modern, service sector diseases. And vibration and noise, which used to be major problems in Midlands manufacturing don’t seem to have gone away. The Midlands’ employers need to get better at looking after the people who work for them, and unions are willing to work in partnership to prevent these workplace plagues.'

• Workers in the Midlands had the second highest concerns about long hours in Britain, as well as about noise at work (23% of workplaces). The concerns about vibration at work were higher in the Midlands than anywhere else.

Notes to Editors:

836 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).

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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 Christine Wood on 07771 778693

Press release (400 words) issued 7 Jan 2003