There are hundreds of laws
designed to keep workers safe at work and still the HSE recorded
over 150 deaths at work last year. However this does not include
those who die in road or other transport accidents while carrying
out their work, or the thousands who die from industrial diseases
such as cancer or from exposure to asbestos. Many others are
injured or suffer long term, debilitating, illnesses which can also
have a great impact on their families.
Laws are great but only
strong GMB membership in a workplace can make sure that the boss
deals with risks and provides protective clothing and good working
practices.
Unfortunately, accidents at work are still a regular
occurrence hence why belonging to a union is important, GMB
members are covered by the GMB Legal Service as part of their
membership package. This vital part of GMB membership provides
members with top class legal representation, which as a result
wins over £1 million each week in personal injury compensation for
GMB members injured at work. That is an impressive £50 million plus
each year.
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer -
John McClean.
National Health, Safety & Environment Research & Policy
Officer - Dan Shears.
Download a copy of the
Health & Safety Inspection Checklist by clicking
here.
GMB
Unofficial Accident & Near-Miss Report Book.
Tracking accidents and near misses at work is critical to
reducing the risk of serious injuries in the workplace.
By developing a complete picture of the risks in the workplace,
it is possible to tackle problems before they ever become serious
enough to severely hurt someone.
This GMB Unofficial Accident & Near-Miss Report Book in no
way intends to replace or usurp the official accident book,which is
the responsibility of the employer. The intention of this GMB
Unofficial Accident & Near-Miss Report Book is to track all
incidents within the workplace suffered by GMB members and would-be
GMB members in order that GMB can ensure that all accidents are
recorded correctly and acted on by the company.
Latest News
GMB lobby in Parliament Tuesday 10th
May
GMB are holding a lobby in Parliament in Room 14 of the House of
Commons on Tuesday 10th May from 14-30 to 16-00. The meeting will
be addressed by GMB General Secretary, Paul Kenny, along with other
speakers from the trade union movement, relatives of victims of
deaths at work and MP's from across the House.The meeting will be
looking at the potential consequences of cuts to the HSE and Local
Authority inspectors and how this could impact on the world of
work. Please use this
briefing to help inform you when you lobby your MP on these
proposed cuts. If you cannot attend the lobby in person please
write to your MP or attend the constituency surgery and raise these
issues with them.
GMB Response to the HSE Consultation Exercise “CD233
- Proposed amendment to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases
and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995
(RIDDOR)”
Following the Lord Young review, the government has just
completed consultation on ammending the RIDDOR regulations. GMB see
this as part of an ongoing attack on workers health and safety,
under the guise of easing so called burdens on business. Please
look at the
GMB response and if you have any views contact Dan Shears or John McClean at the National
H&S Department.
Asbestos in Schools Campaign
Asbestos
in Schools Campaign. Questionnaire for Union Safety
Reps about Management of Asbestos in Schools.
Management of Asbestos in Schools
Briefing
Briefing for Union Safety Reps about
Management of Asbestos in Schools.
GMB Response to DWP Consultation
Document
GMB has submitted it's reponse
to DWP Consultation Document.
Workers Memorial Day - Public
Consultation
Click Here to see GMB
Response.
GMB Response to Consultation exercise on New HSE
Strategy
GMB has submitted it's response
to consultation exercise on New HSE Strategy.