news EXTRA
Rob wins top award!
buildingWORKER is thrilled to announce that Unite national health and safety adviser Rob Miguel has won the prestigious Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) award for Most Influential in 2024, writes Hajera Blagg.
buildingWORKER caught up with Rob, who said he was “honoured and proud” to have won the award, but he emphasised the award was the culmination of a collective effort.
“More than anything, I’m proud for our union, because all the hard work of our reps is reflected in this award,” he said.
Rob’s interest in workplace health and safety developed early on, when he was an apprentice.
“I left school at 14 and I started an apprenticeship as an electrician and maintenance engineer.
“I noticed from the outset we were breathing in dust with no protection; I noticed noise pollution and the accidents happening around me. I worked at a construction site where someone fell off a roof not far from where I was working.”
Being exposed to all this so early in his career, Rob soon decided he wanted to become a shop steward and health and safety rep.
Rob later went on to become a Unite officer and subsequently took on the position he has today as Unite’s national health and safety adviser. The breadth of his work is astonishing – much of it is highlighted in Rob’s nomination for the award.
Although much of the health and safety landscape has improved since Rob was a young apprentice,
progress in many areas has stalled.
“We still have far too many accidents including fatal accidents in the workplace. A conservative HSE estimate shows around 20,000 people die each year from work-related ill health – but this figure is grossly underestimated,” Rob said.
“The figure is likely to be well over double HSE official figures,” he noted.
Rob’s resolve is evident in the way he speaks – it’s no wonder he’s won the UK’s premier health and safety award. Unite heartily congratulates him.
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Unite’s ‘Premiership’ leaders
Unite’s East Midlands Building & Construction Branch is supporting grassroots football by sponsoring Derbyshire-based Ilkeston Town Veterans FC.
Shop steward Steve Moult, pictured back row second right is involved with the East Midlands Veterans Premiership leaders, which Unite supports. Steve said, “Ilkeston town veterans would like to thank the branch again. It’s very much appreciated by all involved with the club.”
36 unite buildingWORKER Spring 2025
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