FEATURE Health and Safety
n By Keith Hatch Safety promotion in action Unite rep works for a safer site at HPB
A new rep at Hinkley Point B (HPB) used skills learnt on his Unite training course to help him get involved with a health and safety event on the site – and recruit new reps.
Gary Thomas is a security guard at the Somerset power station, and a Unite Health and Safety Rep and Environment Rep. He recently attended a union part 2 course for Health and Safety reps in Plymouth.
All new Unite Health & Safety reps attend training from Unite Education where they learn about their rights as a rep, safety legislation whilst sharing ideas and experiences with fellow reps, many from construction. As part of the course reps develop action plans on what they hope to achieve when they return to work.
Gary explained “During the H&S training course I had an opportunity to interact with reps form a variety of different industries. This motivated me to add something to my action plan that could bring a wide range of
different stakeholders within my industry together in the name of health and safety.”
Gary attends monthly meetings of the Hinkley Point B health and safety committee. As part of EDF’s Zero Harm Week the committee decided to organise a Safety Day on October 17 in the staff canteen.
Gary got involved as a Unite rep and said, “The organisation of the event was very much a collaboration between management, Unite safety reps, occupational health, HR and our contract partners.
“We hoped to actively raise H&S awareness on site and mobilise the workforce around a common objective.”
The day was based around the themes of Conventional Safety, Fire Safety, Road Safety and Health and Wellbeing. All staff were invited to attend and take part with prizes available to win during the event. Organisers also offered free
tea and coffee to encourage staff to attend and agreed that there was a great turn out on the day.
Not only was it an opportunity to raise health and safety issues at the site, but Gary saw it as an organising opportunity, saying, “We are actively looking to encourage new Unite H&S reps onsite and we did get some expressions of interest on the day so fingers crossed we may have some new reps joining the team shortly. I feel the day was a great success and was impressed with the level of engagement.”
Gary acknowledged that the event was the result of a massive group effort and wanted to thank everyone involved. He would also encourage reps in other workplaces who are thinking of organising a safety event to give it a go.
“I would definitely recommend this type of event in other workplaces – and suggest offering refreshments to sweeten the deal.”
Popular – free tea goes down a storm
21 Unite buildingWORKER Spring 2024
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Dave Stokes (Communications office)
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