WO toolkit 2012 complete.pdf - GMB

SECTION 7.2
HEALTH AND SAFETY LAW–THE ROLE OF SAFETY REPRESENTATIVES
The detailed laws that cover Health and Safety at Work can be complicated but there are some basic
responsibilities all employers have that every Workplace Organiser needs to know:
1. Every employer is required by law to undertake and act upon a Risk Assessment into their
workplaces and work practices.
2. Every employer where GMB is recognised are required by law to issue a copy of their Risk
Assessment to GMB Safety Representatives.
3. Every employer where GMB is recognised must set up a Safety Committee where two or more GMB
Safety Representatives demand it.
4. Every employer with five or more employees must have a written Health and Safety policy and issue
this to all employees.
5. Every employer should record all accidents or incidents in an accident book and report this to the
Health and Safety Executive(HSE).
ENFORCEMENT
The best way to ensure your employer acts to solve a health and safety problem is for GMB members to
act together,submit a collective complaint and demand a meeting with management to agree a
solution.
The Health and Safety Executive(HSE)and Local Councils are responsible for enforcing the law in the
last resort.However GMB members at work cannot control how long the HSE might take to respond to
your complaint,visit your workplace and produce a report.
If you plan to report your employer to the HSE,make sure you have first organised your members to
submit their collective grievance to your employer and held meetings to build your campaign.
Note:
If you believe you and your colleagues are in serious and imminent danger at work,you have the
right to stop work and remove yourself from the situation.Your union will support you in taking this
action and in representing you in the inevitable enquiry that will follow.
If you and your colleagues can see a situation developing at work that is likely to place you at serious
risk in the future if not dealt with you have the right as a GMB Workplace Organiser to formally
demand urgent action from your employer,which must include management taking immediate
steps to protect you from the danger you have identified.
In these circumstances contact your GMB Safety Representative,Senior GMB Representative,GMB
Branch Secretary or GMB Officer as soon as you practically can.