Safet _tep 7. Tougher penalties needed for assaults on workers - The TUC has blamed the UK’s economic recession for the sharp increase in violence at work. British Crime Survey (BCS) figures published in January show thatthe number of physical assaults against workers rose by 50% last year, reversing a long-term downward trend. ‘An HSE analysis ofthe Home Office's BCS 2008- 09 figures for England and Wales showed that an estimated 327,000 workers had experienced at least one incident of violence at work in the year. There were some 168,000 assaults and 176,000 theeats in 2008-09, ‘compared with 112,000 assaults and 194,000 threats the previous year. “Greater levels of stress and arise in actives suchas shoplifting have led to an increase in violence against workers. The changes to licensing laws have caused more attacks on emergency workers, transport workers and bar staf.” said Brendan Memorial day is made Unions have welcomed the Labour government's announcement that it will officially recognise ‘Workers’ Memorial Day ‘the UK on the 28 April The day commemorates the thousands of people who have died, been “Thore wore over 340,000 assaults and threat at work, latest fiques show Barber, general secretary of the TUC, “Whatever the circumstances, there must be zero tolerance to any act of abuse or aggression against a person who Is ‘engaged in their job.” Earlier this month, imental health support charity ‘was fines £30,000 plus costs after a young support worker was stabbed and kiled by service user Ronald Dixon during a visit is home, Mental Health Matters pleaded guilty toa charge brought by the HSE for a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Actfor fling seriously injured or made il through their work. The theme this year is “Unions make work safer”. The International Trade Union Confederation is. asking UK unions to send Information, success stories and resources on the effect to do all that was reasonably practicable to ensure Ashleigh Ewing's safety. The HSE said that Dixon's mental health was known to be deteriorating, but the charity failed to respond to a number of warning signs and faled to afford Ashleigh Ewing the level of protection thatthe nature of her job warranted. ‘Although the case was ‘unusual it showed the need for employers to assess risks to employees who visit individuals in their homes and for arrangements to be reviewed when changes cccur, the HSE ssi. official they and their safety reps have had on improving safety, and ultimately saving lives, to the TUC. To mark the day the TUC i cain for a minute's silence in workplaces across the country at noon on Wednesday 28 Apri y ecee eeee @eeee A.abour Research Department Publication No. 123 March 2010 2 Personal protection 3 © GPs need training ahead of new ‘ft notes’ Union looks at a gender-sensitive approach to safety © Bill tackles assaults ‘on workers in Scotland News in brief 4 @ HSE monitor news from the Health and Safety Executive Safety rep's published ‘monthly By LRD Publiations te 78 Blacks Road, For detalls of LAD services tel 020 7928 3649 fax: 020 7902 9815, femal infor orguk weste wir org. ue Prints by RAP Spiderweb Lid, Clones Stee, Holinwood, ‘dham O19 7LY LRD’s latest health and safety guides Stress at work £520 Drag & alcohol poices_£5.10 Heath say aw 2009 £12.25 Mirkin time £5.60 ‘The environment £4.90, Tacing asbestos at work £4.90, Safety heath & equaliy £5.10 Tackling Violence at work 4.45, Salty epsin action £5.70, Pain at work 450 aardoussibsances £4.25Workers should have the right safety wear to fit their job Workers should not have to tolerate ilbfitting safety clothing and footwear to carry out their jobs safely. Safety rep examines the law on personal protective equipment (PPE) and union action in this area. ‘The 1992 Personal Protective Equipment Regulations set out the requirements for PPE. The regulations cover protective clothing and safety footwear, although they do not apply to clothing provided for food hygiene purposes, nor to cyde helmets and crash helmets used by employees fon the roads. Under the regulations, ‘employers must ensure that suitable PPE is provided to ‘employees where the risks to health and safety cannot be adequately controlled by ‘other means. Itisa last resort with regard to preventing and controling risks to staff Inaddition, the regulations say that suitable PPE must: ‘© be appropriate for the risks involved and conditions of work. © take account of ‘ergonomic requirements, the state of health of ‘employees wearing it and fit properly: ‘ cffectely prevent or adequately control risks and rot increase the overall risk; and ‘© comply with other legislation, such as product safety legislation. The HSE has issued guidance on the regulations (ee box). But, according to the Women's Engineering Society (WES), many ‘employers are not complying with the law and {guidance when it comes to 2- Safety rep the protective dothing and safety footwear they issue to ‘women workers. Its recent survey found that more than four out of five (82%) wornen respondents said they had had to wear tbfiting jackets, tbo-tirds (64%) ibfiting sloves, and three out of five (58%) said that they had had to wear ibfiting shoes or trousers. One commented: “Overalls fit OK but getting safety shoes in the right size is very difficult. Ether women's are too narrow (and look avdul) ‘or the equivalent men’s are too big and don’t fit propery.” Another said “Gloves in particular are too big and make it difficult to handle stuf.” This is a problem unions have alo highlghted. For ‘example, the TUC says: “PPE is often designed for male bodies, for women workers this may introduce serious hazards. IMiting protective garments will have their effectiveness compromised covery lage gloves may get caughtin machinery.” ‘And public services union UNISON set out how one ofits safety reps tackled the problem in ts Women’s ‘health and safety publication: "Women working in a school kitchen were able to negotiate for protective * shoes, as there had been a large number of sips, trips and falls injuries. However, the women found that the shoes were a bad fit, were too broad, and the soles ‘were very inflexible. “On reporting this to ‘management, they were told that shoes had been supplied, and therefore the employer's responsibilities had now been fulfilled. Any slips, trips or falls incidences shows that tis not only that occurred would now be women workers who are deemed the women’s fault!” being issued with wrongly ‘The UNISON safety rep fitting safety clothing argued that under the PPE Roach, a UNISON regulations protective member, worked for clothing, such as shoes, Stockton Borough Couneil in should be suitable for the risk the neighbourhood services and for the wearer, should team. Because of the bbe maintained, provided free dangerous nature of the of charge and used only asa__work he was provided with lastresort. "Asa resut, the body armour to protect him employer withdrew the against stabbings. original shoes and provided However, the armour more suitable ones after provided was faulty and did ‘consultation with kitchen not ft him correctly and, as. staff” the union said a result, he developed back Professional union and shoulder pain. Prospect has joined forces Following legal action, the Wthe WESte promants comtstardterthe ed Snine sty dodingcaney soon hal fade Gceemorycnpage'h Ws” pri Pench wth equate Ge mripaivtinpase — PPEand warded tim ofthe Sadays Pure. 2000 nerpereton Boot campaign to help raise yc guidance, Working fet and peaceet otwomerne ees Mette Saepaovwa, coareaneyal Syreaity crcl ani vemurimon nay ti Sebatetermene, Semana ‘And the case of council Detals of the WES online survey are wort Anheny Rosch, Stale HSE guidance on PPE HSE guidance on the PPE regulations says an employer cannot make a charge for PPE whether itis returnable or not. “The employer must aso: ‘ ensure that where more than one type of PPE Is necessary, the equipment s compatble; ‘© carry out an assessment before choosing PPE to ensure itis suitable; ‘ ensure that tis maintaned (Including replacing tor cleaning its necessary) and in good repair; ‘© provide safe storage facies: + provide information, instruction and training about the risks the PPE will avoid or limit, and how it should be used; and ‘ ensure that PPE is being used propery by employees. In addition, the HSE says that employers should consult with safety reps when selecting PPE and that consultation with those who do the work and wear the PPE is crucial * Ie says: “Involving the end user with regard to fit, comfort and wearablity is likely to lead to better levels of User acceptance and therefore better protection.” March 2010GPs need better training on job-related illnesses In the run up to the introduction of “fit notes”, the TUC has called for GPs to have better training in how to recognise Next month, anew “fit note” is due to replace the current system of sick notes GPs issue when employees are too ill to go to work. The government has Indicated in its response to the Reforming the Medical Statement consultation that, the new fit note will not {give doctors the option to deem a patient “fit for work”, Instead it will set ‘out what work a patient is able to do. Employers will receive doctors’ notes saying either that the employee is “unfit for work” or “may be fit for some work". GPs are then given four ‘options to choose from that the person may benefit from “if available, and with your ‘employer's agreement”: a phased return to works ‘amended duties; altered hours; and workplace adaptations. A GP can then add any comments, but the note does not require them 10 g0 into detail regarding which activities an employee «an carry out at work, The TUC says thatthe new notes “will only help il oF injured workers get back to their jobs more quickly if GPs are better trained in how to recognise ‘occupational diseases and if they know what a patient's work entails” “Employers also need to knowhow tousethe Information on the notes and that means that we need much better access to ‘occupational heath advice for employers,” TUC. ‘general secretary Brendan Barber said. "No-one should be forced back to work before they are able.” TUC gid one eros, Changes 0 he mee corti, 3 wir, orgul/onray/fnote pa Union focuses on risks for women in the workplace [A professionals’ union is asking its safety reps how gender-sensitve their ‘workplaces are. Risks to men are better known, Prospect say, because health and safety developments have tended to focus on: # dangerous jobs that, historical, have been largely dominated by male workers ‘ standards and exposure limits based on male cohorts and laboratory tests; and “@ male mannequins in the manufacture of protective equipment and clothing. Prospect says that the {greater number of women In the workforce has led to questions about the different effects of workcrelated risks ‘on men and women, in terms of exposure to hhazardous substances. The impact of biological agents (on reproductive heath, the physical demands of heavy work, the ergonomic design of workplaces and the length of the working day are also issues that need to be taken into account. ‘The union says that a gender-sensitive approach to health and safety improves prevention for both women and men and makes sure that everyone is, equally protected. TUC gendersenste heat nd ssl guidance ae wesucorgak/ handy we 1780. Bill to get tough on assaults Anew bill in Scotland could mean tougher penalties for perpetrators of assaults on workers. ‘The Workers (Aggravated Offences) Bilis supported by ‘a number of unions including: the shopworkers’ union Usdaw, the public services union UNISON and the general union Unite along with the communications March 2010 workers’ union CWU and train drivers’ union Aste. ‘The Emergency Workers Act 2005 introduced tougher penalties for those found guity of assaulting, hindering oF obstructing emergency service workers. The proposed Bill would extend this protection to any worker wino provides a face- torface service tothe publi Usdaw says that since the Introduction of the 2005 Act the number of assaults on emergency staffin Scotland has fallen and the number of convictions has risen, Itis campaigning for the same protection for its members elsewhere and says its latest survey found that ‘one in 10 shop workers has been assaulted at work. Stress report Papers from the November 2008 Annual Stress Network Conference, Stress the 2tst Century Epidemic, are now availabe a: wivw. workstressnet/ conference09 hm. The Network has also given advance notice that its 2010 conference willbe held on 27 and 28 November 2010. Directors’ duties Bill is published Labour MP Frank Doran has introduced a Bil that would place a posve duty on Company directors fo tke reasonable steps to ensure health and safety in all, aspecis ofthe company’s activites, ‘At presen, there isan anomaly nthe lan A recent ‘TUC briefing on te ase for algal uty on rectors and Caling onthe government 0 change the law outnes the current postion, This is that itmay be possible to prosecute a director who s given responsbty for heath and safety or who has specie dies that relat to say aspart of ther ole. However, a company director wo chooses to take on no responsbilty cant be prosecuted unless youean show that they Specialy ld something viich contributed toa death ory. ctcort/Rand. e355. am RSI discussions ‘Anew EU musculoskeletal Directive is one ofthe subjects for discussion at a forthcoming RSI conference in London on Saturday 20 March 2010. ‘A European Commission representative has been invited to explain the Directive's measures and its impact on RSI prevention in the workplace. Aepstaton sherds st wo RSiAtonargak Safety rep - 3The latest from the Health and Safety Executive einen tee | Campaigners demand more eee ‘aungtepoonecte | ACCUrate work-deaths data of practice to the Quarries Regulations 1999. An early day motion put thousands who die from the total could bea high as zie bx oocsals10chity forward by Katy Clark, the lliness caused by poor 50,000 a year, wpisingrefrens ther | tour Mor North working condor ‘Are contain egiton tat spls in yshireand Arran, lon According to Hida underestimate the true quarying the government to publish Palmer of the Hazards extent of the damage work toeensure consistency with | ihe otal number of work: Campaign: “A more realtc does hasimpleations for rounry aia HsEhas | elated deaths annually and estimate, which includes health and safety . rothistthose covered by workréated roadtraic enforcement poate Sortie the HSE deaths ard ices “Parking offences in the ceeds (LAO) to ‘The motion expresses _—_ attributed to workrrelated UK are enforced by introduce asngle set of | concern thatthe HSE figures stress i 1,500-1,600 In so- thousands more reguatonscoveringal | Gootrefetthe true ead accidents per year" _erforement offers onthe conainedase work with | umber of peopled by Buteren hese fgures are street nd wih fr more human and mil yy | wate act. The thetpofthelbegand vigour tha workplace figures do not include deaths _ including the many thousands __health and safety offences. modtedorgans. | reported ctr wo de fem ness cased eer area th ms 1e LRO would extend | aithorities or the many by their working conditions change now," Palmer says. the HSE’s regulatory powers to cover biological ges thtposearsko HSE aims to raise awareness naire tetatentcw | OF Slips, trips and falls aoa ‘Anew phase in the HSE's injury asaresut of asp or retalland manufacturing, Shattered Livescampaign trp at work 2008-09, catering and buldng and Guidance aims to | ined at reducing the most wie more than 4000 plant maintenance. cut green injuries | common cause of major employees suffered a major ‘The website includes New HSE guidances | workplace injury in ritsin - injury a aresultofa fall information on reducing the avalable for local authorities | sips, trips and falls — was from height that year. risks easily and cost (LAs)on procuring and | launched last month The campaign aims to effectively, case studies, an managing waste and More workplace deaths rise awareness ofthe impact online tool and a work at recycling services ina bid to | are triggered by fl from of sips, trips and falls in the -_helght access equipment reduce death and injury in| height than anyother cause, workplace and directs people toolkit. Advice ranges from the sector. and sips and trips are toanew website for advice how to deal with spl and The reqring industry has | estimated to cost socety as and guidance. Its targeted at other sip risks, tothe nine times more fatal awhole an estimated £800 those sectors with a high importance of using ladders accidents than the national | milion a year. number of accidents each correctly to reduce the risk average and four times as ‘More than 10,000 year, such as construction, of ling from height. many workers suffer injuries. | employees suffered a major health and social care, food wwe gov shares The HSE is warning local cuwoenecnene | It ain't half hot, boss all health and safety responsibilities Safety reps have been asked the board. Ithopes that the 1992 says that the Ttis to carry out targeted | about problems relating to responses will ago assist in temperature in all inspections of council waste | heat at work as part of an identifying practical and ‘workplaces inside buildings sari Cenartrents HSE review of the law on effective steps that can be shall be “reasonable during looking at the working workplace temperatures. taken to tackle the issue. working hours". relationships LAs have with ‘The TUC has circulated ‘At present, there is no The TUC wants anew contractors and at changes | an HSE questionnaire to clear legal maximum upper limit on workplace made to improve health and | help it gather evidence as to workplace temperature. temperature so that safety standards. ‘whether high temperatures Instead Regulation 7 of the employers would be forced The idancis at wmnuhvegovak/ | at Work are a problem in Workplace (Health Safety _to act when the temperature wt sevee particular sectors or across and Welfare) Regulations _inside reaches 24°C. 4- Safety rep March 2010