Health and Safety Bulletin
January 2008
Safety register and passport
There remains strong interest in the industry in developing a safety register and eventually a safety passport which would allow for the reciprocal recognition of H&S qualifications by employers in our sector.
This would particularly assist freelances, who currently face the potential need to prove their H&S competence each time they work for a different employer.
BBC and ITV are committed to exploring the possibility of a production safety register involving the mutual recognition of each others' safety standards and qualifications. Other broadcasters (with the notable exception of BskyB) are also interested. Skillset has indicated a willingness to coordinate the project beyond the current pilot stage.
Defibrillators
Defibrillators are small, relatively inexpensive devices which can restart the hearts of people suffering heart attacks and which need minimal training to use. The Government has initiated a project to make them available in a range of public places.
John Howcroft raised the issue at the BECTU National H&S Committee. The Committee agreed that employers should be called on to make defibrillators available at workplaces wherever practically possible.
BECTU has subsequently approached the TUC on this issue. They have indicated that they support the rollout of defibrillators and believe the best means of ensuring this would be by means of reviewing and amending the first-aid regulations.
JACE (HSE Joint Advisory Committee for the Entertainment Sector)
The November meeting of JACE covered a range of issues, including a report on the Top Gear/Richard Hammond incident.
The HSE investigation into jimmy jibs (camera cranes) continues. Provisional conclusions are that LOLA (Lifting Regulations) apply and that single person operation would need to be specifically justified.
The JACE Working Group on Working Hours (focussing on long hours and the related problem of driving fatigue) was agreed. The idea of an HSE-endorsed publication on this will be discussed further at JACE.
BECTU further raised the issue of broadcasters' increasing use of on-air appeals for members of the public to submit footage for potential broadcast (eg of news events/extreme weather) - and the related need for a safety warning. The ITN representative indicated agreement with this concern and would raise the issue internally.
House of Lords ruling on asbestos
On 17 October 2007, the House of Lords rules that a particular asbestos-related condition - pleural plaques - was not a compensatable injury. This means that legal claims for any members suffering from this condition will be dismissed.
Thompsons, BECTU's lawyers, are seeking other possible avenues for pursing litigation on this issue. Other asbestos related conditions (eg mesothelioma, asbestosis) are not affected by the ruling.
BECTU National H&S Committee
The Committee met on 12 November 2007. Issues covered included incidents on Brideshead Revisited and on ITV Yorkshire's The Royal Today; the anticipated critical HSE report on the BBC; and the use of airbrushes for applying makeup in common areas at BSkyB - with related ventilation/exposure concerns.
Hazards Conference 2008
The annual Hazards Conference will be held on 18-20 July 2008. Booking forms will be available from February.
The venue is Keele University in Staffordshire.
Review of H&S law
The Chancellor has announced a review of workplace H&S law, with a particular focus on small companies.
This has been criticised by the TUC, who point out that H&S concerns are just as important in small companies.
Workers' Memorial Day 2008
Workers' Memorial Day 2008 will be on Monday 28 April.
The theme, as selected by ITUC (International TU Confederation) is 'Good Occupational Health for all Workers'.
Pinewood H&S Awareness Day
The H&S Day at Pinewood Studios on 11 October was reportedly successful and was attended by BECTU members among many others.
The Day featured a range of speeches including several from HSE and also Bob Forster (ex-BBC).
Private Member's Bill on H&S
The Labour MP Keith Hill has introduced a Bill calling for an increase in H&S penalties. Previous initiatives along similar lines have failed.
The TUC, while supporting the Bill, believes this issue should be taken on as part of the Government's own legislative programme.