Health and Safety Bulletin
November 2001
Health and safety bursaries for freelance training
Skillset, the national training organisation in the audiovisual sector, is offering bursaries to subsidise the cost of health and safety training for freelances. Initially the scheme will operate as a pilot to the end of 2001.
Applicants need to have demonstrable professional experience. Individuals on contracts exceeding one year or those in full-time education are not eligible to apply.
Bursary funding can cover up to 75% of total training costs up to a maximum of £500 (with additional funding for travel and accommodation if you live more than 50 miles from the training location).
A full list of courses, trainers and assessment centres, along with application forms, can be found on the Skillset website.
First Aid course
BECTU is hosting a First Aid 'Appointed Persons' course provided by the British Red Cross.
The one-day course is being run at BECTU Head Office at a cost of £50 per head.
Interest in the course far exceeded the number of places available (which is 12 per course). Unsuccessful applicants will remain on a reserve list for further such courses which the union plans to arrange in the coming months.
The courses are particularly suitable for BECTU members working in safety-critical occupations and for freelances without access to employer-sponsored courses. If you are interested in attending a future course, please register your interest at BECTU head office.
Union Inspection Notices
BECTU Safety Representatives should recently have received a copy of the BECTU Union Inspection Notices (UIN), produced on an experimental basis in conjunction with the TUC and Hazards.
The UIN includes a Guide on when and how to use this course of action, as well as a copy of the notice itself.
Further copies are available from BECTU head office.
Arts & Entertainment Division: Safety Representatives' accreditation
BECTU's Arts & Entertainment Division has agreed a new procedure for appointing and accrediting Safety Reps:
- Election of Safety Reps by Branch
- Notification to BECTU Official and provisional entry on BECTU's Safety Reps Database
- Safety Reps issued with: standard letter requesting time-off for training; information on local courses; BECTU Safety Reps pack
- Time off for TUC Stage 1 course agreed with employer
- Application for Stage 1 course approved by BECTU
- Completion of course
- Full BECTU accreditation; including issue of accreditation card.
Laboratories Division accreditation policy
The Labs Division of BECTU has adopted a policy of requiring Safety Reps to undertake a TUC Stage 1 course before being fully accredited as a SR by BECTU.
Any existing Labs SRs who have not yet been able to undertake Stage 1 training are now being encouraged to do so and provided with information on local TUC courses.
Free courses from BBC
During European Health and Safety Week (16-26 October 2001) the BBC offered free one-day courses on accident prevention.
The courses were provided at centres throughout the UK and were open to non-BBC applicants.
H&S training information to be on Skillset website
The Skillset website is to host a directory of health and safety training courses - including full details about course providers, types of training offered, charges, course details, entry criteria and trainers' details.
The website, which is scheduled to be online by Christmas, should be of particular use to freelances and those who have no in-company access to training.
Major health and safety training providers such as BBC and Granada will contribute information as well as a range of independent training providers.