Why Become A Safety Rep?
An interest in health and safety, wanting to improve health and safety, and the Safety Rep being a trade union representative were the three most common reasons for becoming a Safety Rep, according to the results of a HSE survey into Safety Representatives (SRs) in the workplace and their role in the prevention and control of work related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).
The survey findings showed that, "An interest in health and safety and wanting to improve health and safety were closely related, with many respondents listing one as their primary reason for becoming a SR and the other as a secondary reason. Approximately 5% of respondents became a SR after either they or a colleague had suffered a work related injury."
The report further states, "
Comparing the number of respondents who had become a SR because they or a colleague had been injured or made ill and those who wanted to improve H&S standards at work suggested that most people became SRs proactively rather than reactively."
Interestingly, the HSE found differing responses to that of the TUC 2004 report, where approximately 50% of respondents combined the role of SR with that of a trade union steward and only 50% were specialist SRs.
The reasons for becoming a SR appeared to be unrelated to age, gender, company size, number of employees represented and the length of time as an SR, although in some cases it was not possible to assess this relationship using statistical methods due to the small number of respondents in some categories.
Approximately 15% of respondents provided details about problems that they had encountered in becoming SRs. The problems reported were almost exclusively related to time, including absences away from work to attend training courses and the time required to perform routine safety checks and risk assessments.
It would appear that some employers were reluctant to make allowances to individuals for the time taken to perform SR responsibilities.
The respondents whose main motivation for becoming an SR was due to an injury, either to themselves or to colleagues, tended to encounter problems more frequently than other SRs.
With regard to the knowledge existing amongst Safety Reps, the survey report recommends further training specific to MSDs.
The prevalence and the severity of injuries justify a stand-alone training course, which is specific to MSDs, says the report:
Training needs to be tailored to the work environment of SRs, and the main MSD causes and problems that might be encountered in their workplace.
Courses should distinguish between manual handling and DSE risks.
Training should be delivered by way of one or two day face-to-face courses.
The full report can be read or downloaded from the HSE website
