Health and Safety Bulletin
March 2001
BECTU: health & safety team update
Health and Safety responsibilities are now allocated as follows:
- Andy Egan: health and safety policy and developments, including convening BECTU National Health and Safety Committee
- Martin Spence: lead official on health and safety for members in London Production Division, Regional Production Division and Laboratories Division
- Mark David-Gray: lead official on health and safety for members in BBC Division, Independent Broadcasting Division and Arts and Entertainment Division
- Tracey Hunt: secretarial and administrative support
Arts and Entertainments Theatre Essentials Working Group
The HSE is planning to produce a guidance document on 'Theatre Essentials'. A working group has been formed to oversee production of the document. BECTU's representative is Mark David-Gray.
Roving Safety Representatives
The idea of having roving Safety Representatives where there is no structure of permanent Safety Representatives is gaining ground. The Health and Safety Executive is looking for possible projects for Work Safety Advisors (a concept very close to that of roving Safety Reps).
BECTU has suggested the film studios sector and has further pointed out that there could be a useful role for full-time officials of BECTU, in the same way that Equity and Musicians' Union officials are given Safety Representatives powers under the current regulations. Even if BECTU's suggestion for a pilot is not taken up this time, there may be further opportunities to press for this.
Health and safety courses
BECTU ran a full day course in December 2000 attended by 12 members, together with 3 BECTU staff. The members were drawn from the theatre, cinema and independent production areas.
A successful course specifically for Royal Opera House members has also been held at BECTU Head Office with a TUC accredited tutor.
A series of 2 day courses appropriate for heads of departments or experienced freelances who may be asked to undertake risk assessments is being offered to BECTU members at a heavily discounted rate of £100 +VAT. The course are subsidised by the Skillset Skills Investment Fund, provided by Lionsgate Media (Tel: 020 8334 1171) and will run until at least April.
HSE news
BECTU has sent in comments on a number of recent consultations, including:- 'Revitalising Health and Safety'. In applying this general strategy document to our sector, BECTU believes particular note should be taken of roving Safety Representatives and of the needs of small companies.
- In drafting guidance for the Film, Broadcast, Video and Commercials sector, BECTU believes practical information on training standards and training courses should be included for small firms.
- BECTU has welcomed the proposed use of the more inclusive term 'worker' rather than 'employee' in amended health and safety legislation
Health and safety conferences
BECTU is being represented at a number of conferences during 2001, including the Hazards Conference 2001 (Manchester in June), the Asbestos Still Kills Conference (London, April) and the HSE/DETR At Work Road Safety Conference.
Scottish Theatre Safety Net
This project is a joint initiative of BECTU and S4T (the Scottish Theatres consortium). It receives funding from the Department of Trade and Industry Partnership at Work scheme.
The focus will be on training and awareness-raising on health and safety in Scottish theatres, including seminars, a handbook/CD ROM, courses, a possible conference and a major report.
Scottish pilot 'passport' scheme
This is a pilot scheme whereby freelances in broadcasting would obtain and use health and safety training and portable accreditation.
It is hoped that the scheme can contribute to increasing problems noted in the broadcasting sector - such as the BBC's apparent practice of offloading responsibility for risk assessments onto freelances, who may not have had adequate training in this area.
Radiation hazards/mobile phones
Dave Munnelly of NTL has been named as a member of a subcommittee under the auspices of the Stewart Enquiry into radiation hazards linked to mobile phones. Thus is, of course, relevant to BECTU transmission members.
The subcommittee will examine the establishment of an official register to log exposure incidents, which would then be accessible in any subsequent legal cases.