Workforce involvement in health and safety
THE Health and Safety Executive’s strategy ‘The Health and Safety of Great Britain \\ Be Part of the Solution’ has as one of its key objectives the promotion of worker involvement and consultation in health and safety matters throughout both unionized and non-unionized workplaces.
Quarry-specific health and safety legislation has recognized the importance of involving the workforce since the Quarries Regulations 1999 (QR) came into force on the 1 January 2000. The regulations make no distinction between unionized and non-unionized workforces and build on existing legislation for worker consultation.
The Quarries National Joint Advisory Committee (QNJAC) Target Zero initiative has various working groups set up to help deliver Target Zero, one of which is dedicated to worker involvement. This group has been responsible for helping to produce two courses:
- First, a one-day course developed by the Minerals Products Qualifications Council (MPQC) aimed at the joint training of quarry site safety representatives and managers. The course is available to roll out nationally, either in-company or as a public course, to ensure maximum availability and access for all companies. Enquiries should be directed to Kerrie Mulgrew at MPQC on tel: (01727) 869008; or email: kerrie.mulgrew@mpskills.co.uk
- Secondly, a four-day course developed in conjunction with the TUC aimed at workforce representatives in quarries. The course is free for union members and the fee for others is kept to a cost-only basis. Courses can be run on a single or multi-employer basis. Contact the your TUC Regional Education Officer for further information – for details go to www.unionlearn.co.uk and follow the link to ‘courses for union reps and officers’ then ‘trade union educational contacts’.
Workforce representation can only work properly with the involvement of trained individuals. Anyone who is involved with workforce representation is encouraged to attend the appropriate course relevant to what they are doing.
