WO toolkit 2012 complete.pdf - GMB

SECTION 7.1
GMB HEALTH&SAFETY POLICY
DOES YOUR JOB MAKE YOU SICK?
Recent surveys have shown that a workplace with a strong,active and well organised union,
including trained and active union Safety Representatives has half as many accidents as a workplace
where management make all the decisions alone.
A safe and healthy workplace is a basic demand of everyone at work and most people will experience
dangerous working practices or illness caused by work at some point in their working lives.
Few Health and Safety problems affect only one person most unsafe or un-healthy working practices
affect large numbers of people at once and can best be dealt with collectively.
So Health and Safety issues are often at the heart of our Workplace Organisers activities to recruit and
organise their colleagues.Safety and the threat of getting ill due to long hours,stress,bullying or
because of the chemicals and products our members work on,are all common concerns at work.
People often feel strongly about the issues and want to do something to make their working
environment better.Where GMB is seen to be leading campaigns in this area and involving people at
work in solving the problems,members are more likely to get involved and other workers are more likely
to join us.
GMB POLICY ON HEALTH AND SAFETY
GMB will always be ready able and willing to prosecute employers who have caused injury to our
members or failed in their responsibilities under Health and Safety Law.
If any member in your workplace has suffered an injury at work in the last three years and wishes the
union to examine whether they have a case for compensation,provide them with form TU56,available
from your GMB Office or from the GMB website www.gmb.org.uk.
Prevention of accidents,injury and illness before they happen is also our objective.Our 20,000
Workplace Organisers and GMB Safety Representatives in particular,should work with their employers
wherever possible to identify and support safe systems of work,assess the risks in every part of the
workplace and make their workplace safe and healthy.
There are several steps you and your members can take to make your workplace safer:
1. Identify the risks and hazards to your members’safety and health where you work using your
employers current Risk Assessment,your employers Safety Policy or by using the Inspection
Checklist on the following pages.
2. Work with your employer to completely remove the hazard if possible.
3. If the hazard can’t be removed,work with your employer to reduce it by controlling it at source or
by isolation.
4. If this is not possible demand Personal Protective Equipment from your employer for your
members( you may need to take advice from your GMB Safety Representative or our safety
experts in your Regional Office on PPE rules and regulations before you approach your employer).