Risks 1079 - Bar violent MPs | Backlash over unpaid breaks | deadly roof fall

Union News

Housing workers strike over asbestos fears

Workers at social housing landlord Magenta Living are taking 30 days of strike action over new working practices that could expose them to asbestos. The 100 plus Unite members are employed in repairs and maintenance roles for Magenta Living, which manages 13,000 properties around the Wirral. The dispute arose after the firm imposed a change of policy when dealing with asbestos. Previously, the workforce was trained to stop work when they identified asbestos, with specialist contractors brought in for any removal work. Under the new policy the workers are expected to work with asbestos. Slamming the firm’s “deplorable” behaviour, Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite never takes a backward step when it comes to ensuring the safety of its workers and our members at Magenta will receive the union’s complete support.”
Unite news release. IBAS news report.
 

McDonald's to be monitored over sexual harassment

Fast food chain McDonald's has signed an agreement with the equality watchdog following complaints over how it handled sexual harassment complaints. The move came after the union BFAWU raised its members’ concerns about inadequate processes to deal with allegations, prompting the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to get involved. BFAWU General Secretary Sarah Woolley commented: “This is not a few bad apples, this is caused by a system of zero hours contracts, when working women are expected to live pay cheque to pay cheque, when there’s a culture of cover up with the use of NDAs [non-disclosure agreements] and when McDonald’s continue to victimise members of trade unions.”
BFAWU news release and BBC News Online.
 

Equality watchdog concerned by driver only trains

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has expressed safety concerns over staffing cuts on the rail network. Responding to a letter signed by dozens of MPs and peers, highlighting the impact on vulnerable passengers of ticket office closures and driver only operation (DOO) on trains, the EHRC said we “share your concerns that changes to how some rail services operate are making rail travel more inaccessible.” RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch responded: “We welcome the comments from the EHRC, and they reflect the equalities issues raised by RMT since the prospect of ticket office closures and DOO was raised.”
RMT news release.
 

Network Rail concerns safety regulator

RMT’s concern that Network Rail's Modernising Maintenance programme is “a catastrophe waiting to happen” is shared by the rail regulator, the union has said. The acknowledgment came in a meeting between RMT and representatives of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). RMT has warned repeatedly that Network Rail's plans to meet a £400m Department for Transport (DfT) mandated cost saving are a serious threat to the safe running of the railways. Commenting after the meeting with ORR, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our members fear these plans will lead to a crisis in the safety for our railways and an increased risk of derailments.”
RMT news release.
 

Suspend Raab over bullying claims

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab should be suspended while he is investigated over bullying allegations, a civil service union leader has said. FDA General Secretary Dave Penman told the BBC: “If that was any other employee… they would in all likelihood be suspended from their job.”
BBC News Online.
 

Usdaw pushes mental health rights at work

Retail union Usdaw is highlighting the role of workplace union reps play in ensuring workers receive the right mental health support at work. Speaking ahead of Time to Talk Day on 2 February, Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis said: “Usdaw reps play a crucial role promoting respectful and safe workplaces and giving members a voice at work, both of which are factors in supporting mental health and wellbeing… our mental health campaign provides the union’s workplace reps with the resources they need to better support members receive the adjustments they need at work.”
Usdaw news release

Other News

Tory sunsetting bill set to kill off work protections

Repeat claims by government ministers that its Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill will not remove employment protection have been dismantled by Labour peer John Hendy. He told the Lords “most employment rights and health and safety are EU law,” adding: “We are talking about regulations on: management of health and safety, workplace health and safety, work equipment, PPE, manual handling, display screen equipment, carcinogens, biological agents, construction, safety signs, pregnant women, drilling, mining, chemical agents, dangerous substances, explosive atmospheres, fishing vessels, ionising radiation, lifts, machinery, biocidal products, major hazards, transport, working time, work at height, temporary and mobile worksites, explosive atmospheres, young persons, physical agents, noise, vibration, and offshore installation safety cases.” He said the bill intended to eliminate EU-derived laws automatically at the end of the year would remove protections “in a puff of smoke without parliamentary scrutiny.”
House of Lords debate, 6 February 2023. IOSH news report.
 

Concern over safety rules set for the chop

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), the workplace protection professional body, has said it is ‘concerned’ that the Control of Asbestos Regulations are among a swathe of safety laws listed for abolition at the end of the year by the government’s Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill. It warned the “effective” regulations face being either significantly diluted or scrapped entirely. “Asbestos, noise, radiation, gas safety and indeed the whole mechanism for management of health in the workplace are listed as retained EU law to be repealed, restated or amended,” said the BOHS chief executive, Professor Kevin Bampton. “The UK fought the European Commission over decades to retain its unique and effective approach to health and safety management and the REUL Bill is likely to throw this all away.”
BOHS news release and list of significant regulations scheduled to be repealed.
 

Work evacuation procedures leave disabled at risk

Disabled employees are being put at risk by bosses’ ignorance of safe workplace evacuation procedures, a study has found. West Midlands-based emergency evacuation chair manufacturer Evac+Chair International surveyed 490 small and medium business decision-makers nationwide. A quarter were not aware of the number of mobility-impaired people in their organisation, the research found. And 29 per cent of organisations have only “some” or “very little” understanding of their obligations when it comes to safe evacuations. Accessibility consultant and fire safety campaigner Sarah Rennie said the findings showed that disabled workers could be “at risk”, adding that if an employer is “allowing that risk to go unanswered, then I think you need to ask yourself why.”
Risky business, Evac+Chair International, 2023. Morning Star.
 

Honest Burgers faces backlash over unpaid breaks

Honest Burgers is facing a backlash after it said it intended to ‘fire and rehire’ its workers if they do not accept the loss of paid breaks. The chain, which has 34 restaurants in London, told shopfloor workers via an internal briefing that it wanted to make breaks unpaid but would increase hourly pay as compensation. But workers have said it will leave them worse off, with some waiters and chefs making just three pence more than the minimum wage. The burger firm said those who refuse to voluntarily accept the new terms face being fired and then rehired on the new contract. The new contract is due to come into effect on 1 April. However, comments on social media dubbed the firm ‘Dishonest Burgers’ and ‘Greedy Burgers’ and called for a boycott unless the proposal is withdrawn.
TUC Instagram post. Evening Standard. The Caterer.
 

Firm fined after deadly roof fall

A company has been fined after a worker died following a fall from the roof on a building site. Father-of-one Dennis Vincent and another worker were using ropes to install a lightning protection system to the front of a Warrington office block being converted into flats. On 24 February 2021, the 36-year-old was lowering the access equipment from the roof, using a rope attached to a frame at roof level and a handrail at ground level. As he did so, both he and the frame fell from the roof to the ground. His employer, PTSG Electrical Services Limited, pleaded guilty to a criminal safety offence and was fined £120,000. Two further companies will appear at Liverpool Crown Court later this year in relation to the incident, after pleading not guilty at an earlier hearing.
HSE news release.
 

Logistics multinational fined for safety crimes

GXO Logistics Services UK, formerly known as XPO, has been fined £125,000 and ordered to pay £80,623 in costs after pleading guilty to criminal safety offences. The firm, which employs 130,000 people worldwide, was also charged with a RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) offence for failing to keep Swindon Borough Council informed of accidents at its depot. GXO took over operations of the site in August 2016, but failed to maintain the health and safety of its staff, resulting in a number of accidents taking place in the months that followed. Councillor Steve Heyes said: “GXO fell way short of this minimum requirement and I hope this prosecution and large fine serves as a warning to all businesses that they need to take health and safety extremely seriously or we will not hesitate to take action.”
Swindon Council news release.
 

Events

Organising for health and safety on 28 April 2023

2023 will be a key year for trade unions and working people, the global union confederation ITUC has said. Announcing the theme for International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April this year, ITUC’s deputy general secretary Owen Tudor noted: “Last year, unions secured recognition that a safe and healthy work environment is a right for workers. This has given a new impetus to organising for health and safety – a crucial part of union action. This year’s Workers’ Memorial Day, April 28 is dedicated to this core union priority.”

ITUC/Hazards 28 April 2023 website.

TUC #iwmd23 webpages.

ITUC newsletter,

Health and Safety and Organising - A guide for reps, TUC and related interactive guide for union reps (you may need to register to access this resource).
More on organising for OHS.