Health and Safety Bulletin
September 2002
BECTU Safety reps accreditation
Production plans are now under way for all BECTU Safety Reps to be issued with accreditation cards.
The cards will be produced in parallel to the forthcoming new style BECTU membership cards and should become available later this year.
Online Safety reps' training
Training is a major issue for Safety Reps. Many reps still do not take up their rights to training and of those completing Stage 1 training courses, only 40% go on to complete Stage 2.
In order to improve accessibility to training, the TUC is now offering all Safety Reps courses on an online basis: including Stage1, Stage 2 and the Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. For further details, contact BECTU Head Office.
Broadcasting and Performing Arts Joint Advisory Committee (BJAC)
BJAC, is the HSE's advisory committee for our industry. BECTU is represented on BJAC and its relevant Working Groups.
At the recent meeting of the Film, Broadcasting and Multimedia Group, BECTU Special Effects Branch representatative Peter Hutchinson attended to explain the Joint Industry Grading Scheme (JIGS), which is a form of specialised training (incorporating H&S) for special effects workers.
BJAC is also currently considering a consultation document on 'Filming and Recording Of and From Vehicles' - copies of which are available from Head Office.
Safety conferences
Recent conferences attended by BECTU representatives include the TUC Safety Convention and the Conference on Corporate Accountability (London, July).
The annual Hazards Conference (Manchester, September) will have a number of BECTU representatives present.
BECTU first aid course
BECTU held another successful First Aid 'appointed persons' course at Head Office on June 27th. 9 members attended and achieved their British Red Cross certificate.
The union is considering holding a further course. If you would like to apply, please contact Tracey Hunt at BECTU Head Office (unless your name is already on our waiting list). The cost of the last course was £50.
Union Inspection Notices (UIN's)
These notices are a unilateral initiative of the TUC and Hazards campaign. A customised version of UIN has been distributed within BECTU and further copies are available from Head Office. This is a mechanism for safety reps to draw attention to workplace hazards by issuing and publicly displaying such notices.
The drawback so far is the lack of clear enforcement powers. The TUC will be evaluating the use of UINs throughout 2002 and considering what further changes in Regulations (or even in a Safety Bill) might be necessary.
Workers Safety Advisers (WSA's)
The HSC pilot scheme has established a network of WSA's in 5 separate sectors (not, unfortunately, in our industry). WSA's will operate in a manner similar to that of Roving Safety Reps in areas without established systems of safety representation.
The pilots conclude at the end of 2002 and will be evaluated in Spring 2003. If successful, the scheme could be extended on a wider and more permanent basis - which would definitely be of interest to BECTU.
Self-employed
A continuing weakness of H&S law in the UK is that the self-employed have no right of access to safety reps. The European Commission has recognised this has a general problem throughout Europe and in April 2002, issued a recommendation encouraging H&S production for the self-employed on a voluntary basis. The TUC, backed by BECTU, has reacted by calling for a framework of enforceable rights rather than voluntarism.
The prospect of new legislation in the UK incorporating these concerns remains possible but uncertain. A new Safety Bill is promised by Government but only when Parliamentary time becomes available.
H&S moves to different government departmment
The HSC and HSE are to be moved from their current position as part of the Department of Transport to the Department of Work and Pensions. This has generally been welcomed as a more appropriate area for H&S issues.
Skillset training database
Members wishing to find information on health and safety training courses and on Skillset Bursaries (financial assistance for freelances what training) should access to Skillset's website on www.skillset.org/healthandsafety