Publications
Updated Union Safety Reps Brown Book Bible Now Available
New guidance has been launched by the HSE on workers representation and involvement in health and safety, whilst at the same time the HSE website pages regarding workers involvement have also been updated.
At the October '08 launch both the Health and Safety Minister Lord McKenzie and HSE Chair Judith Hackitt spoke strongly in support of Trade Union Safety Representatives and the benefits of better safety standards provided by actively involved Safety Reps. They also stressed the need for Employers to comply with the Law requiring consultation and involvement.
The '6 Pack' Essential Reading
A number of statutory instruments, following EU health & safety legislation, known as the "six pack" came into force.
They came into effect in Britain in 1992, after six European Directives, collectively known as the 'six-pack', were issued by the European Commission.
The individual books deal with the following legislation, and are featured left to right, with a link to HSE books where the specific book can be ordered:
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (HSE Books) , Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (HSE Books), Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (HSE Books) , Manual Handling Operations Regulations (HSE Books) , Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations (HSE Books) , and Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (HSE Books).
Amended H&S legislation applicable to the above can be found in The Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002
Slips Trips and Falls Guidance For Contact Centres
The HSE have issued new guidance written with input from the NW BTU H&S Co-ord's CWU members, Lee Davies & Chris Ingram.
Working as part of the North West Contact Centres Project they looked at contact centres slips and trips issues and developed the guidance document which was then put together by the project manager Neil Turner and Chris Ingram. The guidance has also been issued to all CWU branches by CWU's H&S Dept in LTB532/07
HSE Advice on Working With DSE (VDU)
Working with display screen equipment (visual display units) have an inherent health and safety risk to all users, that whilst not immediate obvious, can cause problems with eye sight, musculoskeletal disorders, work related upper limb disorders, posture problems, headaches, general aches and pains and even in extreme case deep vein thrombosis.
This new guidance form the HSE is a document that all union safety reps should have in their library and make use of regularly.
Click the pic to download a pdf version of the leaflet.
Health, Work and Wellbeing - ACAS
Ahead of Depression Awareness Week (21st To 26th April), ACAS has produced a booklet dealing with mental health, musculoskeletal disorders
and stress.
The 36 page booklet in PDF format can be downloaded by clicking on the pic.
Health & Safety Is A Gender Issue
Click pic to download factsheet from Hazards
Women and Occupational Health
A detailed report commissioned by the World Health Organisation.
Details the issues facing women at work and addresses the lack of understanding of women's needs in the workplace and challenges the myth that health and safety is not gender based.
click the pic to download the document in pdf format.
Health and Safety Guide for Disabled Workers
The HSE has launched new disability health and safety guidance, intended to promote good practice in disability equality at work and health and safety risk assessment.
Additionally guidance in the form of a pdf document, written by the Disability Rights Commission and the HSE, has also been launched and is available for download by clicking on the pic to the left.
The document is in the 'easyread' format ensuring it is accessible to those who are sight impaired and shows how employers and disabled workers
can work together to make everyone safer.
You can also access the HSE website disability section here
Lighten The Load - CWU H&S Advice
The purpose of this Safe Working On Delivery Guide is to help ensure
the risks to health and safety on Delivery work are properly controlled and to achieve a reduction in accidents at work, stress and ill health
within Royal Mail Letters Delivery in order that fewer numbers of
members get hurt as they go about their daily business and can perform
their walk more effectively.
HSE Guidance On Office Safety
The HSW has produced a booklet on safety in office environments.
Useful for all USRs who have office based working environments within their remit.
This booklet can be downloaded direct from here by clicking the pic.
HSE Issues Guidelines on Involving Workers
A briefing document for HSE and local authority staff to understand and promote worker involvement benefits in health and safety has been issued as of December 2006.
New DSE H&S Advice Issued
HSE have updated their DSE advice - finally!
Click on the pic to download
TUC/HSE Asbestos Guide for USRs
This brief guide for safety representatives on asbestos and the new Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 is available as a PDF document - click the pic!
Healthy Work: Productive Workplaces
'Healthy Work: Productive Workplaces' also reinforces the inextricable link between healthy workplaces and economic performance, suggesting that too many people are still employed in jobs that both cause ill health and lead to poor productivity.
The authors caution that problems such as sickness absence, dependence on welfare benefits and low pay have their root in ‘bad jobs' - i.e. jobs that give employees little voice and control. Other issues that impact health and productivity include imbalances between effort and reward, bad management and poor job design. The report argues that employers must tackle the whole system and not just symptoms in isolation.
Download the document (PDF form) by clicking on pic.
Hazards at Work 2005
"Although workplace deaths are at an all-time low, there are no grounds for complacency. Workplace illnesses continue to grow. That’s why we’ve produced this new completely re-written edition of Hazards at Work to give safety professionals all the information on major workplace hazards, and practical advice on dealing with them."
Brendan Barber
TUC General Secretary
You can order your copy direct from the TUC, or via your CWU Branch office for a special discount when buying in bulk.
Click on the image to order.
New Guide from HSE on sick Absence
HSE have issued a new guide aimed at Union Safety Reps and other Trade Union reps to help them prevent sick absence turning into job loss.
Under the hading of 'Working Together' this 11 page booklet can be downloaded here.
End the 48 Hour Opt Out!
The TUC are campaigning to ensure all workers are aware of their rights to ensure they are not working longer hours than the law allows.
Your employer can ask you to agree in writing to work more than 48 hours if you wish. This is usually called 'opting out' of the Working Time Regulations. The law says though that you must not be forced to sign an opt out, or be dismissed or treated unfavourably if you refuse to sign.
Download this booklet in pdf form here. Visit the TUC's campaign site here.
Your rights at work: the TUC Guide - 2nd edition
The TUC’s essential guide now fully revised, updated and expanded. This new edition of Your rights at work contains new sections on pensions, family rights, and surveillance. All the original material, which included contracts of employment, working time, maternity rights, parental leave, dismissal, health and safety, bullying, wages and discrimination are updated, bringing you up to date with the latest legal developments. Every one at work needs a copy. “People with any interest in workplace issues, and that is the vast majority of us, will find this book an indispensable aid.” - Christine Buckley, Industrial Editor, The Times
Available from the TUC website:
www.tuc.org.uk/publications/viewPub.cfm?frmPubID=330
Planning Your Pension – A TUC Guide
This book is designed to help everyone at work get through the pensions maze. Its comprehensive and detailed coverage includes: the state pension schemes; types of schemes (employer-run, salary-related, personal, stakeholder); contracting out of SERPS; the legal rules; trustees and member representation; changing the scheme; negotiating the package; information for members; what happens to the money; safeguarding the benefits; what to do when things go wrong.
Available from the TUC website:
www.tuc.org.uk/publications/viewPub.cfm?frmPubID=285
Remember: Trade Union members are entitled to a discount on TUC prices
