11 weeks until the TUC National Inspection Day

Pre-header text goes here   |    Send to a friend   |    View in a browser August 2017 TUC National Inspection Day - Wednesday 25 October It's 11 weeks until the TUC National Inspection Day and UNISON is encouraging safety reps to specifically consider inspections focusing on whether the workplace is healthy for all ages. With the working population ageing and apprenticeship schemes being introduced as an alternative to schooling, this couldn't be more important.  Today’s young worker is more than likely to be tomorrows older worker, but only if work is safe and healthy for all ages. Safety reps can use inspections to consider not only the tangible hazards such as slips and trips, fire, and work stations. They should also focus on intangible hazards and solutions, including: shift work, job rotation, and flexible working. Remember, workplaces with active safety reps are twice as safe. So carry out an inspection on national inspection day and: - raise awareness of the issues; - identify concerns to raise with the employer; - raise the profile of safety reps; - meet members, hear their concerns, and ask if they would like to get more involved or become a safety rep; and - meet non-members, as issues they raise may also concern members or present opportunities for success or recruitment. UNISON has various resources which will be of use including our: - safety rep guide on workplace safety inspections, - other guides available from the online catalogue and/or the get help pages, - National Inspection Day webpage, and - European Health and Safety Week webpage.

Health & Safety in the Voluntary and Community Sector

My next workshop was led by the Head of UNISON Health & Safety, Hope Daley. Hope had a tough job to remain positive and upbeat about safety in the face of Government attacks on workplace safety measures and cuts in funding for those bodies who are suppose to protect us.

While cuts in funding for our sector means that many employers are taking risks with their employees and our clients. Staff numbers are being cut to the bone. Support services are being down graded. For example "Waking night" staff are being replaced by so called "sleep overs" which means that staff in residential projects will face working a 8 hour late shift, then have a disruptive nights sleep (possibly being awoken several times during the night) and then do a 8 hour early shift. 

I made a brief contribution that health and safety is an organising issue. The "cuts" show that you can not trust the Government, the law or your employer to protect you at work. The only friend you have at work is your union. The best way to make you safer is to help build trade union density and organisation. Recruit a work colleague to the union and volunteer to be a safety rep.

Hope stressed the importance of using Worker Memorial Day (April 28th) and National Inspection Day (which takes place on the Wednesday of European Health and Safety week). She also used the opportunity to promote the new UNISON guide to "Disability and Health & Safety" which was published in December. I had to leave before the end to go to a Service Group Executive meeting.

National Inspection Day

Today is National Inspection Day. Part of European Health & Safety Week. I have just finished inspecting my workplace with the office manager and safety advisor. I'll write up the report later. UNISON and the TUC have plenty of advice and support materials on their web site.

Of course if you don't have time to do an inspection today - you can always do it another time. I know activists are busy - but regular safety inspections should be a key trade union activity and frankly a priority.

Prevention is much, much better than cure.

Health and Safety Questionnaire

Last week was European Health & Safety Week". On Wednesday it was "National Inspection Day". So I carried out a workplace inspection and this is a copy of the Health and Safety Questionnaire that I have distributed. I amended it from a TU survey. You may be able to adapt it for your own workplace?

Health and Safety Questionnaire

I am the UNISON Health and Safety representative. I would be grateful if you could spare a few minutes to fill out this important survey and return it to me: -
PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL – TRADE UNION, John Gray, UNISON, All staff (regardless of trade union membership) are invited to complete this questionnaire.

Please circle your answer Y/N when appropriate

1. Do you feel that you are stressed by your work? YES/NO

2. Is the level of stress unacceptable or causing you harm? YES/NO

3. Do you feel that you have control over work? YES/NO

4. Do you have enough resources and support to do your job? YES/NO

5. Have you felt ill due to your working conditions? YES/NO

6. If you have felt ill, what are the symptoms? (For example frequent headaches, depression, anxiety attacks, sleeplessness, indigestion, constant tiredness)

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

7. Did you report this illness if so, was anything done?………………………………...

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

8. Do you have regular team meetings when health and safety is discussed? YES/NO

9. Do you have regular “one-to-ones” with your manager? YES/NO

10. Do you have a copy of your risk assessments? YES/NO

Any other comments? (Please include your name and telephone extensions if you are interested in finding out about joining UNISON). However, you do not have to since this survey is entirely confidential

…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………….

Please return to me by Monday 12 November 2007. Many thanks in anticipation

Go “walkabout” this Wednesday - National Inspection Day 24 October

We have got ourselves in a right mess over health & safety in this country. The right wing dismiss practically all safety concerns as just “unnecessary nanny state meddling”. If people die at work then that is just bad luck. These things “happen”.

Likewise, there are also people in our great trade union movement, who consider health & safety not to be a “proper” union issue. Yes, they will use it to recruit and wind members up but… “What! work with the bosses? Fill out their forms? Write reports? How will this further the revolution?”

Even pretend left wing journo's such as columnist Simon Jenkins in today’s Sunday Times, unconsciously uses the same arguments that Victorian supporters of Child labour and opposers of the early nineteenth century Factory Safety Acts made. For example “Risk Assessments”, Jenkins describes today as “one of the most useless generators of red tape and maladministration ever invented”, actually save lives and protect people in vulnerable jobs.

Middle class berks such as Simon who live and type, in their protected privileged cloisters, inhabit a world a million miles away from those who actually do real work for a living.

Anyway, as previously posted this week is European Health & Safety Week. Each year there is a different campaign, the 2007 campaign is called ‘Lighten the Load’ and is targeted at supporting employers, workers and safety representatives to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs – back and muscle injuries). A million workers per year are affected by MSD.

Also on Wednesday it is "National Inspection Day" when all trade union safety representatives are asked to inspect their workplace. So this Wednesday, even if you have not been trained as a safety rep, then at the very least walk around your workplace with your manager looking out say for obvious slip, trip and fall hazards. Better still; also contact your union branch, regional office or the TUC about being trained as a trade union safety rep.

Jenkins can also go walkabout …down the plank!