Health and Safety Bulletin
September 2007
TUC Hazards at Work: new edition
The TUC is producing a second revised edition of the book version of Hazards at Work. It is due out in October.
BECTU can supply individual copies free of charge to Safety Reps. Please contact Tracey Hunt at BECTU Head Office if you wish to order a copy.
Paid time off for Safety Reps
BECTU lawyers Thompsons have issued a new guidance letter on paid time off for Safety Reps for training at Stage 2 and Stage 3 levels.
The letter takes account of recent caselaw. It indicates the criteria by which to judge the prospects of applications for time off and the arguments to deploy.
Copies are available via Tracey Hunt at BECTU Head Office.
Noise at Work
There is a current HSE consultation on the Draft Guidance for the Music and Entertainment Industries on Noise at Work.
Clive Coston, BECTU's rep on the Working Party producing the Guidance, is encouraging members to send in responses and, in particular, to make the point that there should be a printed version of the Guidance (for individuals who need access when away from a computer) or at least a single click electronic version.
The consultation can be accessed at www.soundadviceconsultation.info. The deadline for responses is 12 October 2007.
BECTU Conference
Conference passed a motion calling for the TUC to provide a 24 hour hotline for trade union members, given the limited hours offered by the HSE. BECTU has written to the TUC accordingly but has emphasised that if the TUC cannot provide the service directly, we are calling on them to press the HSE to do so.
The collection at Conference for the Hazards Asbestos Group raised a total of £300, which has been pased on to Hazards.
BECTU National H&S Committee
The committee met on 27 July 2007 and heard reps' reports from areas including BBC (concerns about on-air appeals for amateur video/photography without suitable safety warnings; an investigation into the incidence of brain tumours among cameramen at BBC Birmingham); Odeon-UCI; Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Paul Atkinson reported on recent serious hazards/incidents on Brideshead Revisited (excessive working hours) and Emmerdale (an exploding piece of equipment).
BECTU Asbestos Reigster
As of mid-2007, 244 members had joined the register, including significant numbers from BBC, Granada/3sixty media and ENO.
Caselaw on road accidents at work
The Court of Appeal has awarded damages expected to exceed £1m to a worker injured while driving after working for 19 hours.
This could be relevant to BECTU members - especially freelances - exposed to a risk of road accidents after excessive working hours.
Talescopes
BECTU, represented by Martyn Jenkins, has participated in discussions with Westminster Council (responsible for H&S in central London venues) on the issue of tallescopes.
Preliminary discussions and research indicated that moving the basket with personnel inside is safe in certain defined circumstances. Further work is being undertaken.
Film Industry Safety Group
At the meeting in June, items included:
- The HSE 'Notice of Occupation' (form 9): This has fallen into disrepute and may be scrapped. It is relevant to filming on location.
- Pinewood HSE Awareness Day: A free training day on 11 October 2007 with an open invitation to interested parties.
New corporate killing law
After a long delay in going through Parliament, the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 has finally achieved Royal Assent. It will come into force on 6 April 2008.
The Act toughens the law on corporate killing by making companies and government bodies face prosecution for manslaughter and suffer an unlimited fine if they are found to have caused death by gross health and safety failures.
Workplace deaths rise
HSE figures for 2006-2007 indicate an 11% rise in workplace deaths to a total of 241. This is the highest number for 5 years.
New health & safety legislation
The Government has announced its legislative proposals for the coming year. These include three bills of relevance to health and safety:
- Child Maintenance Bill: widening access to compensation for mesotheliomia victims.
- Coroners Bill: changes to the way workplace deaths are considered
- Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill: Increases sanctions available to HSE against H&S offenders but could also reduce their ability to enforce by seeking to 'reduce burdens' on business.
Migrant workers
The TUC has produced a new publication Safety and Migrant Workers: A Practical Guide for Safety Reps.
This is aimed at Safety Reps with responsibilities for migrant workers. Copies are available via BECTU Head Office.
Health & Safety Commission (HSC)
The HSC is to merge with HSE and to become its Board.
HSC has a new Chair as from 1st October 2007. It is Judith Hackitt (ex Chemical Industries Association). She replaces Bill Callaghan.
European H&S Week
This year's European H&S Week is on 22-26 October 2007. The main theme will be muscoloskeletal disorders.