Health and Safety Bulletin
January 2006
HSE Worker Involvement Programme
The HSE has initiated a Worker Involvement Programme to examine workers' representation and input on H&S issues. It may lead to the publication of a consultative document in 2006.
BECTU's initial response to HSE has highlighted our concerns on the lack of safety representation for freelance/self-employed workers; on the case for Roving Safety Reps; and for a specific amendment to Regulation 8 of the Safety Reps' Regulations to give BECTU equivalent status to Equity and MU in being able to nominate safety reps who are not employees of the company concerned (eg to deal with independent TV productions where the whole workforce is temporary and where no safety reps are available within the workforce).
Whether the HSE's initiative will lead to any significant and beneficial change to the regulations remains an open question.
Lone working with cameras
The development of new-generation portable cameras and new TV programme formats has led to non-camera staff being increasingly asked to undertake lone camera-work in factural/reality programmes (ie outside of news & current affairs). There are potentially new H&S risks (eg less H&S awareness, less support personnel) to add to the basic vulnerability of lone camera workers to obstacles/environmental hazards/ even physical attack. Many of the individuals concerned are relatively young and inexperienced in the industry.
We are looking for case studies and examples to raise with HSE. If you have any relevant information please forward it to Andy Egan or Martin Spence at BECTU Head Office.
BECTU H&S Handbook
The reprinted Handbook is now available and has already been circulated within BECTU. Further copies are available from Head Office.
BECTU H&S craft cards
The reprinted and redesigned craft cards have now been circulated within BECTU. A further and subsequent reprint replaces the Camera Units card with one for Camera & Grips.
Further copies are available from Head Office.
Film Industry Safety Group (FISG)
Items discussed at the recent meeting of the FISG included the plan for new guidance notes on the CDM Regulations; the publication of a revised and updated document on 'H&S in Film Production'; and the Animal Welfare Bill.
BECTU National H&S Committee
Issues covered at the November meeting included H&S publications; HSE industry committees; the need for a reprint of the BECTU Safety Reps' credential cards and sectoral reports (on Odeon/UCI, Laboratories, Theatre Safety Committee, and BBC).
H&S section on BECTU website Bulletin Board
Safety Reps and activists should note that there is a H&S section on the bectuforum.org.uk bulletin board. The H&S section is moderated by John Howcroft, one of our BBC Safety Reps.
BECTU H&S training courses 2006
- H&S Part 1: 14th - 16th February
- H&S Part 2: 15th - 17th March
- Tackling Workplace Stress/ H&S Part 3: 6th-7th April
- H&S Part 1: 23rd - 25th May
- H&S Part 2: 27th - 29th June
- H&S Part 1: 26th - 28th September
- H&S Part 2: 31 Oct - 2nd November
- Tackling Workplace Stress/H&S Part 3: 28th - 29th November
All courses are at BECTU Head Office. For further information, contact Tracey Hunt on 020 7346 0900 or thunt@bectu.org.uk
HSE Workers Safety Advisers' Project
BECTU will not be submitting a bid for funding in the next round of this rolling 3 year project. After detailed discussion with the WSA Project organisers and at the TUC, it is clear that the fund is simply not geared to the freelance/self-employed sector for which we submitted an unsuccessful bid last year.
BECTU will of course continue to lobby for improved safety reps' rights for atypical workers - as in our input to the HSE Worker Involvement Programme.
Construction, Design & Management (CDM) Regulations in the film industry
New guidance notes on this issue are being drafted by Jason Curtis (who is a BECTU member) and others. The aim is to produce a set of practical guidance notes endorsed by HSE for wide circulation in the sector.
This is likely to be particularly relevant to construction managers, production designers and art directors.
Hazards Conference 2006
The Hazards Conference 2006 will take place from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th July 2006 in Manchester (at the UMIST site of Manchester University).
TUC publications
Recent TUC publications on H&S include a new-format for 'Hazards at Work' (with updates apparently to be placed on the TUC website and a full revision in possibly 2 years); and 'Health & Safety Inspections, a TUC Guide' (with advice for safety reps).
Noise at Work Regulations
The HSE has produced new guidance publications:
- 'Protect your hearing or lose it', employee pocket cards
- 'Noise at work: Guidance for employers'