Health and Safety Bulletin
January 2004
HSE inspection of BSkyB
An HSE Inspector visited the BSkyB site at Osterley on 30th October. A number of H&S issues had already been highlighted by BECTU reps in previous correspondence with HSE. Following his visit, the Inspector highlighted a number of concerns, including manual handling practices, problems in specific studios, stress, makeup and hairdressing conditions, electrical testing, exhaust ventilation and medical assessments for nightworkers.
The Inspector will be conducting follow-up visits, including attending a Health and Safety Committee meeting and there is an opportunity for a continuing dialogue with BECTU reps. BECTU's work on H&S at Sky has the further advantage of raising the union's industrial profile at the company.
BECTU H&S courses
14 students successfully completed the BECTU H&S course based on the TUC Stage 1 course and accredited with the Open College Network. The course was run in two 3-day blocks in November and December 2003 and was held at BECTU Head Office. The successful students were:
Dave Broomfield - BBC Broadcasting House
Iain Balmer - BBC World Service
Fiona Clark - Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
Iain Day - BBC Cleveland
Paddy Flanagan - ROH
Helson Gomez - Deluxe
Terry Hazzard - BBC World Service
Chris Hull - Deluxe
Harry Humphreys - ROH
Steve Kelly - BBC Technology
Derek Kilgore - Crown Castle
Kevin O'Sullivan - Crown Castle
Jane Perry BBC - Elstree
Mark Whitebrew - ATG
HSE: 'Worker involvement and consultation on H&S'
In response to an earlier stage of consultation, the HSE has issued a draft statement of principle on this issue which signals an intention to abandon HSE plans to harmonise regulations between union and non-union workplaces.
BECTU's response, via the TUC, focuses on the continuing need for a system of trade union based safety representation for atypical workers, including freelances and casuals. Specifically, the union wants the current Regulation 8 rights for Equity and MU to be extended to all recognised unions, including BECTU. This would allow us to nominate safety representatives who were not employees of the employer concerned (eg on a temporary film or television location) and could be the basis for union officials or external BECTU reps to intervene in the absence of safety reps at that workplace.
New Challenge Fund
The Government has announced a new Challenge Fund to extend the Workers Safety Advisors scheme beyond its initial pilot phase. £3m has been made available to cover the years 2004/5 to 2006/7. So far, only the construction, voluntary and retail sectors have been suggested as possible areas of activity.
BECTU favours a full system of Roving Safety Representatives and would obviously wish funding to be available for our industries.
HSE moratorium on publications
At the last BJAC meeting, it was announced that the HSE has instituted a moratorium on publications even including the 'Theatre Essentials' document prepared by a BJAC Working Group with BECTU participation. BECTU has written in protest to Timothy Walker, Director General of the HSE, urging that the moratorium be ended as soon as possible.
BECTU National Health & Safety Committee
The Committee, at its latest meeting in October, heard specific reports on NTL, BBC and the Labs. It was confirmed at the meeting that BECTU will provide financial assistance with the initial fee for members joining IOSH, although individuals would then have to pay the subsequent annual subscription.
BECTU website
BECTU H&S Bulletins are posted on the union's website [www.bectu.org.uk]. Simply look under the 'long index' for health and safety.
Work At Height Regulations: consultation
The HSE has produced a Consultative Document, together with a Questionnaire, on the draft Work at Height Regulations. You can obtain an electronic version via the HSE website at [www.hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm]. Alternatively, you can request a copy by email from David King at HSE Work at Height and Machinery Safety Policy Branch on : [work.at.height.consultation@hse.gsi.gov.uk]. The consultation ends on 2 April 2004.
Mobile phone driving ban
The ban on using hand-held mobile phones came into effect on 1st December 2003 and may particularly affect a number of BECTU members – both those who have to drive as part of their work and those, especially freelances, who spend significant time travelling to workplaces remote from their home base.
Hazards Conference 2004
The National Hazards Conference 2004 will be held from 16th to 18th July at UMIST Manchester, with residential and conference facilities on site. Further details and application forms should be available nearer the time.
Induction Course for BECTU Representatives
BECTU will be running a one-day Induction course for BECTU reps on the 9th February at BECTU Head Office. The course is designed to welcome reps to the union, explain how the union work, discuss the role of a BECTU representative and provide information on future education and training that is available. It is relevant to all lay representatives, including safety reps and learning reps and for anyone who would like to become a BECTU representative.