Safety reps are being urged to get involved in ‘national inspections day’ on Wednesday 23 October as part of European health and safety week.
The week, which starts on Monday 21 October, is on the theme of “working together for risk prevention through leadership and worker participation” and offers an ideal chance for UNISON safety reps to work with their management and organise some local inspections.
UNISON points out that this can make a real difference to the health, safety and wellbeing of UNISON members and all workers in a workplace.
And that is born out by the experiences of some of our members.
Georgina Dales
Georgina Dales is branch safety officer. She works in a large school and was extremely worried to find children sanding down MDF without masks, a large electric saw with no safety guard, and floors being dry swept.
In pottery cancer-causing dust from fired pots was also dry swept, shelving had not been cleaned for years, and pots were fired with children in the classroom without an extractor fan.
The kiln had not been checked since it was installed, which was so long ago no one could remember when this was.
MS Dales sent a report to management which led to the rooms being closed down and industrially cleaned.
The school also installed an extractor fan and a guard on the saw, alongside washing facilities for the children who were now also provided with aprons.
The cleaning staff were trained in how to clean the dust without increasing the risk of exposure.
Ms Dales also improved fire safety by contacting the council’s safety section and eventually the local fire officer, to get the school management to move benches from in front of fire exits.
Diana Holiday and Brian Williams
Safety reps Diana Holiday and Brian Williams cover what they describe as a slightly dilapidated building.
After their first inspection, they immediately requested repair work to a failing heating and ventilation system in a basement where 40 people worked.
There was also a severe lack of storage space lead into trip hazards, a lack of rest area facilities, and a general poor state of cleanliness.
Mr Williams Brian described it as the beginning of a “very long and sometimes frustrating journey through managers, committees, and funding problems.”
But they say the results have been worth it:
- new air conditioning, lighting, safety rails, furniture, and storage space;
- the reduction of trip hazards;
- a general and ongoing review of the work area.
It took a lot of work by the branch says Ms Holiday, but her advice to any safety rep is: “Don’t give up.”
Get help at work: health and safety reps
Video: Workplace Safety Inspection (YouTube link)
UNISON Knowledge: health and safety (member only content)
News story: Get involved in European health and safety week (20 September)
Health and Safety Executive: get involved (external website)
European Agency for Safety and Health: Workplace safety campaigns (external website)
