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Health and Safety Campaigns

Campaigning on health and safety

For a campaign briefing on health and safety, written by one of our PCS health and safety representatives, please go to our campaigns page.  Some tips on things you can do right now are presented here.

Defending health and safety - 28 April 2012

At our conference in 2011, members unanimously supported motion A551 calling PCS to :

  • continue the joint campaign for adequate resources for the health and safety executive (HSE);
  • monitor and commission research into the effects of a purely reactive model in the enforcement of health and safety;
  • regain commitment to a continued regional HSE presence;
  • work closely with HSE and TUC to support them in challenging the cuts and policies which damage this country’s framework of protection for workers’ health and safety;
  • donate £500 to the Families Against Corporate Killers Campaign;
  • re-affirm continued affiliation to the Hazards Campaign and magazine.

This gives us a clear mandate to continue joint campaigning with other unions and H&S specialists like campaigning groups such as the Hazards Campaign, Families Against Corporate Killers and the UK work-stress Network. 

Already action has taken place, including parliamentary lobbying, raising the profile of health and safety across union activities for example by linking it to organising and learning, and responding to government and the health and safety executive's consultations and reviews. 

PCS is committed to maintain and raise the momentum and will inform members and union safety reps regularly.

Bulletins on health and safety

Key information in the form of bulletins can be found on the TUC website and are provided here too:

10 Things You Can Do Right Now

Here are some key actions and messages for share widely with members, non-members, family, friends and the public:
 

  1. The cuts are a huge risk to our health, safety and well-being - there is an alternative; 
     
  2. PCS members at HSE and PCS H&S reps save lives, protect our health and our safety, and prevent more accidents and ill-health;
     
  3. Without safety reps, workplaces are 50% more dangerous to health, safety and well-being;
     
  4. PCS believes that proactive inspections by the HSE regardless of the sector or workplace are essential to ensure employers comply with their legal duties and maintain workers' health, safety and well-being, good working practices and decent working standards;
  5. Visit the new anti-cuts website supported by PCS - False Economy - and add your own testimonies, find out about local campaigns. It is “for everyone who thinks the coalition is cutting too much, too fast and wants to do something about it”
     
  6. Undertake workplace inspections and follow-up results;
     
  7. Review policies and seek to ensure managers use best practice on:   work-related stress, bullying and harassment, lone working, driving for/at work, domestic abuse and violence;
     
  8. Urge members to report all incidents of abuse, threat or violence, any near miss incidents, injuries and accidents. Follow-up these up with management to build better protective and preventative measures;
     
  9. Recruit new members and H&S reps;
     
  10. Link with union learning reps to have a ‘Good Health at Work Day’ and promote PCS’s H&S and ‘the alternative’ messages.

We welcome your comments, suggestions and news about success stories.

For more information about H&S campaigns please contact PCS HQ:

Tel:  020 7801 2683
Email:  healthandsafety@pcs.org.uk 

Workplace temperatures

PCS has long been supportive of workplace temperatures campaigns.

Over the last few years, we have been lobbying alongside other trade unions and supportive organisations to highlight and tackle the problem of high and low temperatures at work. Recently, we urged our parliamentary group of MPs to support early day motion (EDM) 2151.

We invite you to write to your MP to support the campaign.

In the near future, we aim to run a union survey about this issue. Watch this space for details.

Hazards - We did not vote to die

Unions and the TUC, Hazards, and the Institute of Employment Rights are working together to combat the myths perpetuated in the media and by certain politicians who say that health and safety is a burden on business and "gone mad".  Such lies are damaging to the health and lives of millions of workers wherever they work - in offices, prisons or courts, or outdoors inspecting farms or working on our streets, coastlines or borders. 

A number of campaigning resources are available for reps to put up in their workplaces and to raise awareness to members and the general public that heath and safety is no joking matter. 

If you would like some posters for your workplace, you can either email PCS - healthandsafety@pcs.org.uk - or call us on 020 7801 2683.

Lighten Up - Support for Aviation members

Our Aviation members have flagged up a Unite led campaign called Lighten Up which PCS's national health and safety forum is supporting.

The campaigns aims are:

  • to reduce the weight of suitcases to that recommended by the HSE Aviation Committee.  This will reduce the number of back and other injuries suffered by baggage handlers who are five times more likely to suffer muscular skeletal injuries than any other UK worker
  • to ensure travellers are not ripped off with excess baggage fees
  • to raise awareness about the positive effect lighter luggage will have on global warming.  As Unite says, "Lighter bags equal lighter planes resulting in less fuel use and lower carbon admissions".

For ways in which to support the Lighten Up campaign the Unite website has some useful suggestions.  Please show solidarity with this.