Risks - Voter backlash over worker rights | Report work suicides | Monkeypox, risk to workers

Number 1064 * 20 October 2022

Union News

Government risks voter backlash over rights bonfire

The Conservative government will face a “significant” voter backlash, including losing all ‘red wall seats’ and those of several of the Tory party’s ‘big beasts’, if it follows through on plans to rip up key workplace protections which originated from EU law, the TUC has said. The warning came as the union body published data from its new MRP poll which revealed ‘whopping’ nationwide and cross-party support for protecting EU-derived workers’ rights. The TUC said ministers have effectively “set off a ticking time bomb” on hard-won workers’ rights. The Retained EU Law Bill, soon due for second reading in the Commons, will automatically scrap a swathe of worker protections at the end of 2023, including many key workplace safety protections, unless ministers choose to retain them. TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The prime minister has no mandate to take a sledgehammer to workers’ rights. Voters will punish her if she proceeds with these reckless plans – she must stop the chaos and ditch this damaging bill.”
TUC news release.

HSE must get more funds and more staff – unions 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) must be provided with the appropriate funding to do its job, with increased staffing and better pay, unions have said. A motion passed unanimously this week at TUC’s Congress explained how government cuts have “substantially weakened” the HSE, adding: “It is struggling to effectively regulate as it should across many sectors, from construction and factories to major hazard installations.” Moving the motion, Geoff Fletcher of Prospect highlighted how HSE’s budget has been cut by 60 per cent between 2010 and 2020. Speaking for PCS, Katrine Williams said: “If the HSE has to stop work on the health at work protection programme, there will be an absolutely adverse impact on people with protected characteristics.”
PCS news release.

Most workers want shorter working week - survey

Most workers in industries including the engineering, shipbuilding and automotive sectors want a shorter working week with no loss of pay, according to new research. A survey of almost 2,400 workers by the Institute of Employment Rights (IER) showed that more than nine out of 10 supported a cut in the working week. The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU), which conducted the poll, said the majority of respondents believed the most important benefit would be a better work-life balance and improved mental and physical health. Ian Waddell, the confederation’s general secretary, said: “This report should give the trade union movement the confidence to launch full-throated campaigns for a step change in working time with no reduction in pay,” adding: “A reduction in working time with no loss of pay is long overdue.”
Morning Star.

Retail union welcomes #ShopKind campaign

Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed an action week involving police forces engaging with local businesses, retailers and the community to raise awareness of business crime. The week-long initiative, which kicked off on 17 October, is organised by the National Business Crime Centre, which represents UK police forces. The#ShopKind campaign urges the public to be mindful of shopworkers’ essential role serving the public and emphasises that workers should be treated with respect, kindness and gratitude. Paddy Lillis, the Usdaw general secretary, said: “We very much welcome the work of the National Business Crime Centre and the co-ordination they do to bring police forces, retailers, shopworkers and communities together to promote the ‘#ShopKind’ message. There is no doubt that crimes against businesses are a main trigger for violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers.”
Usdaw news release and Freedom from Fear Campaign.

Union helps retired union rep get medical error justice

A former UNISON rep has received £225,000 in compensation with the help of the union after a medical error led to his foot being amputated. Dennis Burns, 81, from Middlesborough, was not provided the necessary medicine by his GP when he sought treatment for gout. The condition continued to worsen, leading to soft tissue breakdown in his foot and his contracting osteomyelitis - an infection that causes severe pain in the leg bones. Eventually, there was no choice but to amputate his foot. Fiona Belgian, a lawyer from Thompsons Solicitors brought in by UNISON to act in the compensation case, said: “Although we are pleased to have secured such a substantial settlement for Dennis, you cannot put a price on your health.” She added: “There's at least some financial security for Dennis, and he can feel that he has held accountable those who have failed to provide him with the most basic healthcare.”
Thompsons Solicitors news release.

Tesco sickness absence policy now covers menopause

Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed Tesco’s agreement to change its sickness absence policy to better support staff experiencing menopause symptoms. The union said the move by the supermarket chain follows on from the successful launch in May 2022 of a guide agreed with Usdaw to help more women working at Tesco to access menopause support. The sickness absence changes mean that from 18 October, menopause related absences stop being included in absence calculations. Following their return to work, the discussion between an employee and their manager will then focus on how the company can best support the individual. Usdaw national officer Daniel Adams commented: “We welcome that Tesco has recognised that women experiencing the menopause need additional support and flexibility and that absence should be managed supportively, not punitively.”
Usdaw news release.

Other News

HSE not up to its post-Brexit work on chemicals

Key government regulators including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) do not have the necessary staff and skills to protect workers and the public from chemical and other risks, MPs have said. The Commons public accounts committee said that regulators are “struggling to recruit and retain the skills they need to regulate effectively” amid growing demand following Britain’s exit from the EU. HSE has been tasked with operating an independent post-Brexit regulatory chemical safety regime, replacing a sophisticated EU system for setting exposure standards, regulations and regulatory systems. All existing EU regulations are set to be ‘sunset’ in a year, unless given an explicit reprieve. The report notes that government plans to cut budgets at HSE “would mean it was not resourced to take on its new functions and maintain existing ones.”
House of Commons Public Accounts Committee news release, report and Inquiry: Regulation after EU exit. Morning Star.
 

MPs say work suicides should be reported to HSE

Suicides at work should be reported in the same way as occupational accidents and work diseases, a group of MPs has said. The call comes from the All Party Group Parliamentary Group (APPG) on issues affecting men and boys The group, chaired by Conservative MP Mark Jenkinson, made the recommendation at the conclusion of its inquiry into male suicide. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has resisted calls for work-related suicides to be covered by its RIDDOR reporting regulations (Risks 1027). However, a key recommendation in the APPG report, “Tackling Male Suicide: A New ‘Whole System’ Approach”, calls for: “Suicides at work to be disclosed as a RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations).”
APPG on issues affecting men and boys. ‘Third enquiry: Male suicide’, news release and report.
ACTION! Tell the HSE to recognise, record and take action to prevent work-related suicides. More on work-related suicides.

Monkeypox a risk to UK health workers

Monkeypox can be a significant risk to health care workers, a UK study has found. Investigators from hospitals, universities and the UK Health Security Agency investigated environmental contamination with monkeypox virus from infected patients admitted to isolation rooms at the Royal Free Hospital, London, between 24 May and 17 June 2022. Surface swabs were obtained from high-touch areas in five isolation rooms, from the personal protective equipment (PPE) of healthcare workers in doffing areas in three rooms, and from air samples collected before and during bedding changes. The researchers concluded their “data show contamination in isolation facilities and potential for suspension of monkeypox virus into the air during specific activities. PPE contamination was observed after clinical contact and changing of bedding. Contamination of hard surfaces in doffing areas supports the importance of cleaning protocols, PPE use, and doffing procedures.”
Gould S and others. Air and surface sampling for monkeypox virus in a UK hospital: an observational study. Lancet Microbe, 7 October 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-5247(22)00257-9 . NHS England Airborne High Consequence Infectious Diseases Network.

Uninsured furniture retailer gets small fine

A furniture retail boss who did not have the insurance that would cover his legal liabilities if a worker suffered an injury or disease as a result of his negligence has escaped with a small fine. Exclusive Oriental Classics Ltd and its director Kian Hoo Tay appeared at Luton Magistrates Court for failing to have Employers’ Liability (Compulsory) Insurance (ELCI). The court heard an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered the failure when one of the company’s employees was injured at work on 1 March 2022. The insurance policy had expired on 13 May 2021. Exclusive Oriental Classics Ltd and Kian Hoo Tay pleaded guilty and both were fined £1,650 plus £1,750 costs. HSE inspector Emma Page said: “Every employer needs to ensure that they have Employers’ Liability (Compulsory) Insurance in place to ensure against liability for injury or disease to their employees arising out of their employment.”
HSE news release.

Security guard seriously injured at abattoir

A meat production company has been fined £440,000 after a security guard at an abattoir was seriously injured by a vehicle passing through the site gate. The 63-year-old worker, who was employed by an independent security company, was on duty at the gated entrance of the Dunbia (UK) abattoir at Hatherleigh, Devon, early on the morning of 29 November 2018. Her duties included operating the gates to allow delivery vehicles to enter and exit the site. She sustained serious leg and head injuries requiring surgery when she was hit by a vehicle towing a trailer. She was holding the gate open at the time. Dunbia (UK) pleaded guilty to a criminal safety offence and was fined £440,000 plus costs of £27,016. HSE inspector Victoria Buchanan said: “This incident could have been avoided had the company assessed the risks from vehicle movements and implemented safety measures including segregating vehicles and pedestrians.”
HSE news release.

Petrol blunder saw worker engulfed in flames

A Kent groundwork contractor has been fined after a worker sustained serious burns as a result of petrol thrown on a bonfire. The 26-year-old groundworker employed by Kent County Surfacing Ltd was working on a new residential development when a co-worker threw petrol on the bonfire. The groundworker was unaware of this and after he was instructed to light the bonfire, he was engulfed in flames as the petrol vapour ignited. He suffered serious life-changing burns and underwent two skin graft operations to his left hand, left arm, left side of torso and both his legs. Kent County Surfacing Ltd, which pleaded guilty to a criminal breach of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations, was fined £10,000 plus costs of £7,333.42. HSE inspector Ross Carter commented: “This serious incident and devastation should have been avoided if those in control of the work provided the appropriate supervision, information and instructions to their workers.”
HSE news release. Construction Enquirer.

Bernard Matthews fined after separate injuries

Bernard Matthew’s Food Ltd has been fined £400,000 following two separate incidents where employees were seriously injured. Colin Frewin was left permanently paralysed following an incident at the company’s Suffolk manufacturing plant. The 54-year-old, who suffered the injuries on 28 January 2020 that have left him paraplegic, had been tasked with cleaning a large screw conveyor used to move poultry turkeys along and chill them. As he attempted to dislodge a trapped turkey using a squeegee, he was drawn into the machine. In an earlier incident at the same plant on 12 August 2019, as 34-year-old Adriano Gama tried to remove a stuck turkey wing from the line, his gloved hand became caught in the exposed sprocket of a conveyor and was drawn into the machine, causing a broken arm and severe muscle damage. Bernard Matthews Food Ltd pleaded guilty to a criminal safety offence and was fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £15,000.
HSE news release.

Action

Do you have, or have you had Long Covid symptoms?

The TUC and the Long Covid Support Employment Group are interested in the experiences of people with Long Covid. Their survey aims to better understand how workers with Long Covid have been treated in the workplace and what support is needed.

If you have experienced Long Covid, complete the survey and share with others.

International News

Turkey: IndustriALL mourns after mine ‘homicide’

Mining unions have expressed outrage and sadness after a 14 October explosion in a coal mine in Amasra, Turkey, killed 41 miners. Global union IndustriALL and IndustriALL Europe said 110 miners who were underground at the state-owned Turkish Hard Coal Corporation (TTK) mine when the incident occurred. Early indications suggest the explosion happened because of ‘firedamp’, a build-up of methane gas. Eleven workers were hospitalised, some with serious injuries. Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, said: “This is a homicide, not an accident. Turkey has to do much more; it is unacceptable to witness killings in mines in 21st century. This is not the destiny of miners. Our strong solidarity is with the Turkish miners.” The union bodies said they will conduct an emergency visit, together with the General Mine Workers’ Union, Genel Maden-Is, the representative union in the mine in Amasra.
IndustriALL news release. The Guardian. BBC News Online. Bne Intellinews.
 

USA: Food giants use smartwatch app to monitor workers

Two of America’s largest meat companies - JBS and Tyson Foods - have invested in a smartwatch application that allows managers to monitor workers’ movements. The start-up behind the application, Mentore, claims to improve worker productivity while reducing injuries. The repetitive, fast and taxing work of cutting and packing protein makes meat processing plants some of the most dangerous workplaces in the country. However, experts said the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to manage workers can have negative effects, such as increased stress and injuries, particularly when companies use the technology to make disciplinary decisions. Meat companies have fought to increase the pace of work on the line, the single largest factor responsible for workplace strain injuries, a move opposed by unions.
Missouri Independent.

Events

Supporting workers with Long Covid, TUC webinar, 27 October 2022

Long Covid is still affecting the day-to-day activities of 1.4 million people in the UK. But many workers are not getting the support they need from their employer. Join a one-hour TUC webinar on 27 October to hear what employers should be doing to support workers and how reasonable adjustments can be used to help workers dealing with the impact of Long Covid. Speakers include Clare Armstrong from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Damien McNulty from teaching union NASUWT and Kirsty Stanley, an occupational therapist from the Long Covid Support Employment Group.

Register! Supporting workers with Long Covid, TUC webinar, Thursday 27 October 2022, 14:00-15:00.