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Health and Safety

Safety reps

Union safety reps have a dramatic, positive impact on safety at work – and the more training they get, the safer the workplace. Evidence shows that workplaces with union safety reps and joint union-management safety committees have major injury rates less than half of those without.

Safety reps’ rights and functions include a legal right to: Represent employees in discussions with the employer on health, safety or welfare and in discussions with HSE or other enforcing authorities; investigate hazards and dangerous occurrences; investigate complaints; carry out inspections of the workplace and inspect relevant documents; attend safety committees; be paid for time spent on carrying out their functions, and to undergo training.

Safety reps in union recognised workplaces have the legal right to paid time off for union approved safety training. HSE’s evaluation of the impact of safety reps training found the more training a safety rep underwent, the greater the positive impact at work.

The legal rights of safety Representatives can be found in the "Brown Book" which is the regulations, code of practice and guidance on safety representatives. The TUC has produced a version of this for training purposes which can be downloaded here [pdf].

Links:

HSC Consultation on improving worker involvement

Comprehensive information on Safety Reps’ rights, tools, training, links to safety reps pages, resources and topic based information.

Hazards safety reps training and time off briefing

Hazards union effect webpages

Safety reps profile – what makes them tick

Health and Safety Inspections: A TUC Guide

TUC New Unionism safety reps pages

HSE safety reps page

TUC Union reps website

Worksmart

Organising for Health and Safety: A TUC Resource for use in the workplace


The most recent documents available on this subject are:

Safety Reps Survey 2008
The TUCs biennial survey for health and safety reps
1 May 2008

You may slip up without Hazards at Work!
The second edition of the TUC's best-selling guide to health and safety at work is now ready!
22 October 2007

Focus on Workplace Inspections
The next Northern TUC Health and Safety Training Day will focus upon the key role of workplace inspections and union safety reps' role in the risk assessment process, including embedding occupational health into risk assessment.
26 September 2007

Northern TUC, safety reps survey of workplace inspections
This survey is being conducted to analyse the actual experience of trade union safety reps and workplace inspections in the northern region
7 September 2007

Safety reps mean action at work
Union safety reps make workplace safety campaigns effective, research for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has found.
PDF version available for download
31 August 2007

Safety & Migrant Workers: A practical guide for safety representative
A new guide for safety representatives which gives advice on how they can work with migrant workers
28 June 2007

Older documents - 20   >

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