05


Become an NUJ health and safety rep


Caroline Holmes, NUJ training coordinator, reminds members of the importance of health and safety reps across chapels and branches.


safety rep in your chapel or branch. Te Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the regulatory body which oversees the development and enforcement of health, safety and welfare in the UK. In a report published in November last year, the HSE revealed that 1.7 million workers were suffering from work- related ill health during 2023/24. Te HSE argues that Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work, but the statistics demonstrate that there are still improvements to be made (Hazards, Spring 2025). Te TUC estimates that where


T


there is a union presence, with active and trained health and safety reps, the workplace injury rate is 24% lower than where there is no union presence. Employers with health and safety commitees where trade unions are involved have half the injury rate of employers who manage safety


here has never been a more important time to step forward as a member and sign up to become a health and


without trade unions (Health & Safety 2024 - lrd.org.uk). Trained, informed and confident NUJ health and safety reps are at the heart of how the union can support members by helping to resolve any health, safety and welfare issues they have. Issues such as poor mental health and depression, due to overwork and unrealistic targets, can have a seriously detrimental impact on members’ health if leſt unresolved. Te sooner members bring their concerns to the atention of health and safety reps, the sooner those reps can raise them both individually and collectively. Te NUJ has a comprehensive


training programme to support all members who are interested in becoming health and safety reps. It begins with the reps’ induction, which is a two-hour workshop held monthly. Te next dates are 17 September, 14:00-16:00; 30 October, 10:00-12:00; and 26 November, 10:00-12:00. Please email tutraining@nuj.org.


uk for more information and to sign up to any of the dates above.


Greener Workplaces for a Just Transition


Te TUC has published a toolkit to support reps in their action on tackling the climate emergency. Identifying workplace issues is a helpful place to start when considering how best to raise priorities with management. Guidance from the toolkit


suggests reps seek to find issues that resonate with members’ immediate needs and provide security and comfort in the long-term. Tere are likely to be ‘win-win’ actions that lower your employer’s carbon emissions or environmental impact while improving the working lives of your colleagues. Read about organising surveys, documenting inspections and more in the toolkit.


UPDATE


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8