Union Safety Reps And Employers Urged To Participate In European Week For Safety And Health At Work

As readers of Unionsafety will know, advance notice of the theme and date of this year's European Week For Safety And Health At Work was given by this website last June. Given it begins on 22nd October, plans need to be well on the way to completion, with employers hopefully signed up for a joint union/employer approach to the week; which involves health and safety activities in the workplaces across the UK.

Given the current Con-Dem(ned) coalition government's stance on health and safety, fatalism, complacency and outright dismissal of the need to protect workers from hazards whilst at work from many employers; the trade union movement has never had a greater challenge since the days of Thatcher, to the European Week For Safety And Health At Work.

This week, CWU has issued a letter to all it's branches promoting this year's European Week For Safety And Health At Work, and through their Health, Safety & Environment Department, have also been pursuing the various employers with whom the union has members; for joint union/employer events to take place during the week in order to promote the need for safe and healthy workplaces.

But of course, given the state of many UK workplaces, this approach is seldom welcomed by the employer, and it is always an up-hill struggle to get the employer's enthusiasm for involvement!

Dave Joyce, CWU's National Health, Safety & Environment Officer writing in the letter to the Union's branch secretaries via LTB715/12 provides the full background to what the week is all about.

His LTB begins:

The European Agency for Safety and Health describes the EU H&S week as: "Aimed at people in organisations, companies and workplaces of all sizes and sectors. Everybody involved in occupational safety and health matters is invited to take part, e.g. companies, managers, employees and safety representatives, safety and health organisations, trade unions and employers' organisations."

Dave adds,

Health and Safety Week 2012 will take place between. 22 - 28 October 2012 and the theme for the European Health and Safety campaign 2012 is 'Working together for risk prevention - through Leadership and Worker participation'.

The week is run by the European Agency for Safety and Health who have published a website full of news, materials and activities.

In the UK the week is being coordinated by the Health and Safety Executive.

The TUC will be undertaking a number of initiatives during the week. The Wednesday of European Health and Safety Week is traditionally National Inspection Day when all safety representatives are encouraged to inspect their workplace.

The CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department will once again be supporting the EU Health and Safety Week and National Inspection Day and will be encouraging joint participation with employers and full participation of CWU Safety Reps.

USR's are urged to contact their branches to ensure they are fully equipped with resources to be involved in the weeks local events. To this end, a website has been set up to provide full range of resources such as posters, info sheets, and ideas for a local campaign.

The Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2012-13, Working Together for Risk Prevention Campaign Materials published by the EU Agency For Safety and Health at Work, including:-

*          The Campaign Main Guide  
*          The Campaign Workers Participation Guide
*          The Campaign Poster
*          The Campaign Leaflet
*          The Campaign Flyer

All of the above documents can be downloaded from the E-Library Database using search category 'Health & Safety Campaigns'

For full details of this year's campaign see Unionsafety previous news item from July this year:

Theme And Date Of the European Week For Safety And Health At Work 2012 Announced

Source: EU-OSHA / CWU

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