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Section two : executive summary

Key findings

Key findings from the responses to the TUC 2004 survey reveal that:

• overwork or stress remains the main hazard of concern to workers, with over half of the safety reps responding (58%) identifying it;

• as in previous years, stress or overwork is still the major concern across most sectors. It is rated as the main hazard of concern in ten out of the fourteen sectors. The Banking, Finance and Insurance sector is by far the worst (83%) for overwork or stress;

• stress or overwork is the overwhelming concern in all sizes of undertakings, appearing to be more of a concern in workplaces with over 1000 workers (63%). Overall, the most stressed out parts of Britain are South West England and Scotland;

• musculoskeletal disorders are still a major problem in the workplace and seem to be getting worse. Repetitive strain injuries (40%) and back strains (35%) are placed second and third respectively in the main hazards of concern. In addition, another 13% identified handling heavy loads as a main concern;

• Display Screen Equipment (DSE) drops from the third main concern in 2002 to the fourth main concern in 2004. One in three respondents (32%) cites it as a major issue;

• the top four hazards mentioned above have headed all the TUC biennial surveys since 1996;

• slips, trips and falls on the same level (28%) have moved up from the seventh main concern in 2002 to the fifth main concern in 2004;

• four out of every five safety reps (79%) identifying overwork or stress in their workplaces identify workloads as a factor. Around one half of the safety reps also cite change and cuts in staff;

• over half of the safety reps (53%) say that their employers have conducted adequate risk assessments. But in the Education sector, 11% of safety reps said that risk assessments had not been done, a further 18% did not know and 6% said risk assessments had not been recorded;

• where there are risk assessments in existence, less than three out of ten safety reps (29%) are happy with their involvement in drawing them up. Almost half the safety reps (44%) are not involved at all;

• the percentage of safety reps reporting that their employer provides occupational health services stands at 83%, a similar figure to 2002. But it seems that occupational health services are again more preoccupied with sickness monitoring, first aid, health surveillance, pre-employment screening and disciplinary assessments. And still limited in relation to the provision of preventive services;

• six out of ten safety reps have done a TUC/Union Stage 1 course, and one in three have done a TUC/Union Stage 2 course. The two main reasons given by those who had been unable to access training are being too busy at work, and management refusal;

• one in five of the safety reps are never automatically consulted about health and safety matters;

• one in two safety reps conducts three or more inspections per year;

• more experienced safety reps spend more time on health and safety matters than their less experienced counterparts;

• almost two out of ten workplaces (17%) do not have a joint management - union health and safety committee;

• four out of ten (39%) safety reps say that as far as they know a health and safety inspector has never inspected their workplace;

• where a health and safety inspector has visited a workplace, 38% say that they or other safety reps were not spoken to by the inspector and 26% did not know;

• according to safety reps, seven out of ten employers make some health and safety improvements or better comply with the law because of the possibility of an inspector’s visit;

• legal enforcement notices have a wide impact upon employers’ practices. Six out of ten (61%) employers comply with the notice and also are stimulated to review other practices in the company in different departments and/or work activities;

• only four out of ten employers (42%) are involving safety reps in planning changes following the receipt of an inspector’s enforcement notice;

• an increasing percentage of safety reps have access to the web either at home (68%) or at work (61%). Four out of ten (41%) have access at both home and work;

• just under half of safety reps (49%) double up as shop stewards.

Conclusions

The main conclusions that the TUC draws from this survey are:

• Employers are failing to tackle the main occupational health challenges. Stress is the key issue within most workplaces, with the main causes being overload and staff cuts. In addition, musculoskeletal disorders are still a major problem in the workplace and seem to be getting worse.

• By and large the issues identified by safety representatives as being their main concerns are those within the HSC priority programme.

• There has been no improvement in the number of employers offering an occupational health service, and where they do, it is more concerned with sickness monitoring than prevention.

• Although there has been a slight improvement in the number of employers conducting adequate risk assessments the figures are still abysmal, given that this is a legal duty. The public sector, which has higher rates on stress, is worst.

• Employers are not consulting safety representatives on risk assessments.

• Many safety representatives are having difficulty getting time off for training from their employer.

• There has been no improvement in the proportion of safety representatives who are women, under 35, are black or from an ethnic minority.

• Despite a lack of consultation and difficulties in getting time off, the overwhelming majority of safety representatives are inspecting their workplace at least once a year, and half had conducted three or more inspections.

• Visits by the HSE or Local Authority enforcement officers and even the possibility of a visit, have an effect in changing the safety culture within an organisation.

• Many inspectors are not initiating contact with safety representatives when they visit a workplace where there is a safety representative.

Recommendations

The TUC recommends that:

• The HSC, TUC and trade unions continue to address those areas within the priority programme, in particular stress and musculoskeletal disorders.

• The HSC must look at reviewing the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations to ensure that safety representatives are consulted about risk assessments. They should also enforce the current regulations concerning general consultation with safety representatives.

• Visits by HSE and Local Authority inspectors should be seen as being one of the most effective methods of improving the health and safety culture within the workplace. But the enforcement authorities must ensure that inspectors liaise fully with safety representatives, and where they do not exist ensure that the employer is consulting with the workforce.

• The current regulations and guidance on training of safety representatives need to be reviewed and strengthened.

• The TUC and trade unions should seek to ensure that they encourage members from those groups under-represented at present, to become safety representatives.

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