H&S survey highlights strong engagement but reveals ongoing challenges
The first ever survey of PCS Health and Safety reps was issued in May. The survey indicates high levels of participation and active reps who are trained and working within official structures in the workplace.
Health and safety reps carry out a vital role, not just in protecting the safety of PCS members, but everyone in the workplace – including non-members, visitors and the public.
It is shameful that 138 people lost their lives in work-related accidents last year, while more than half a million suffered non-fatal injuries at work. This demonstrates why health and safety representatives are so vital to ensuring that incidents do not occur and that protective and preventative measures are put in place, as well as holding employers to account when things do go wrong.
Our survey revealed that more than 90% of PCS health and safety reps had received formal training, and a similar number told us that management had been made aware of their role. PCS reps are also involved directly on the ground, with more than 60% telling us that health and safety issues were dealt with at a local level.
More than two-thirds of workplaces are inspected twice yearly by PCS health and safety reps. It’s concerning, however, that more than a quarter of reps told us there were certain areas of their workplace that they were not allowed to inspect, although the reason for this isn’t immediately clear.
In case of emergencies, more than 80% of reps said that they were allowed to immediately attend, but that leaves almost a fifth not able to respond directly to these situations.
Regarding facilities time, while 9 out of 10 reps told us they had adequate time to carry out their duties, nearly 80% said that their health and safety time was being counted as normal facilities time. This is concerning to those who are carrying out a dual role, perhaps as an ordinary rep or a branch officer. Time spent on health and safety matters shouldn’t be counted against facility time, indeed this is a breach of the Civil Service Management Code and possibly the law.
The incoming national health and safety committee will review the survey’s findings over the coming weeks and make recommendations to ensure that PCS health and safety reps are afforded their rights and continue to have the facilities, time and knowledge to protect everyone in the workplace.
If you’ve thought about becoming a health and safety rep you can check out the H&S Toolkit or speak to a member of your branch committee about getting involved.