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Attention: industrial correspondents, health and safety media, union journals

New health and safety officer at the TUC

Hugh Robertson has been appointed as the TUC’s new senior health and safety policy officer. He replaces Owen Tudor who was promoted to head of the TUC’s European and International Department late last year.

Hugh previously worked for public sector union UNISON as head of bargaining and health and safety, where he managed, among other things the union’s health and safety work. He joined the staff of the UK’s largest union over 20 years ago, and during his time there had a variety of jobs including national officer for local government. He represented UNISON on the national Local Government Health and Safety Forum and the Waste Industry Health & Safety Forum. He is also the former Vice-chair of the Housing Sector Consortium.

Hugh’s long involvement in health and safety goes back to 1974 when he first able to combine his two main interests, trade unionism and health and safety, as a SOGAT safety rep in the Scottish paper making industry. He moved from there to local government where he soon became secretary of the Aberdeen branch of NALGO (which is now part of UNISON).

Commenting on his new appointment, Hugh Robertson said: 'Working for the TUC will be very challenging, but I look forward to maintaining the high profile that the TUC has had on health and safety.

'My main priority will be to work with our affiliated unions to support the development of health and safety in the workplace and to try to make worker involvement a key plank in any health and safety prevention strategy, whether by employers or the Health & Safety Commission.

'One of the goals for us in the year ahead is going to be convincing the Government that if it’s serious about worker safety, it must bring an end to the UK’s long hours culture, and end our individual opt-out to the Working Time Directive. Unions are also keen to see the Government come around to the idea of a ban on smoking in all workplaces, and it’s important that 2004 is also the year that a bill on corporate killing is introduced.'

Hugh is currently a member of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council and is an accredited mediator.

Notes to Editors:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

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

Press release (500 words) issued 16 Jan 2004