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Occupational Health and Safety – A Gender Issue: Theme Of CWU Conference 2008 Fringe Meeting

Two hundred Communication Workers Union health and  safety reps and branch officials packed the CWU Health Safety and Environment fringe meeting at the CWU's Annual Conference in Liverpool on Tuesday 10th June.

Dave JoyceOpening the meeting entitled “Occupational Health and Safety – A Gender Issue”, CWU national health, safety and environment officer Dave Joyce said: “The role of union safety reps is clear; it covers health as well as safety so health and safety rep is a better title.” Dave added that “unions wanted to ensure that employers fulfil their duties by consulting union safety reps on a whole range of health, safety and welfare issues. As part of our policy of tackling the occupational health agenda we will continue to work with the Men’s Health Forum (MHF) and the Wellbeing of Women (WOW) and others to promote a climate in the workplace where members feel supported.”

Speaking on behalf of the Men’s Health Forum, their chief executive, Peter Baker said: “If a plane crashed in the UK every day killing over 300 people there would be outrage and the press and Parliament would demand action. However, over 330 men die in the UK every day under the age of 70 and very little is said about it.”
Man - Owner Workshop Manual
Peter went on to describe the work the MHF had done with Royal Mail, BT, other employers and the CWU and announced the launch of the new "Men And Work" manual, written in conjunction with the government's "Health, Work and Wellbeing" team, an A5 size, 32 page,  full colour booklet which is the first manual MHF have produced on health at work. "It is the perfect resource to support activities during National Men's Health Week and beyond" added Peter.

The Manual covers; Role of men at work, Healthier eating, Getting active - and getting your weight down, Back pain, Coping with stress, Stopping smoking, Drinking sensibly and When health problems develop. The Men’s Health Forum is calling for a shift in policy in favour of delivering health improvement services in the workplace, to improve the current poor state of male health the Men’s Health Forum is calling for a shift in policy in favour of delivering health improvement services in the workplace, to improve the current poor state of male health.

Speaking on behalf of the Wellbeing of Women, Deborah Mason detailed the work done by WOW: " Wellbeing of Women is the only UK charity dedicated to solving the health problems that affect women by funding medical research and training into all aspects of reproductive health. Over the past 40 years we have invested over £27m to fund the very best in medical research and training, resulting in some remarkable progress. In fact, every woman living in the UK since 1964 will have benefIted from advances in healthcare made possible by Wellbeing of Women."

WOW publicationsShe continued: " Half of all women in the UK still experience a reproductive health problem during their lifetime, be it trouble conceiving, intensely painful periods or gynaecological cancer. Well being of Women is the only charity dedicated to changing this by funding medical research that will benefIt these women and the professionals who diagnose and treat them."

Deborah encouraged everyone to organise “Purple Days” and events to help support the work of WOW: " Well being of Women is committed to transforming women's health. Yet, despite our best efforts, we still receive more research grant applications than we are able to fund. With your help, we could support more research projects and together discover solutions that will enable women to get more out of life. "

Deborah related women’s health issues in the workplace. She said that one in two women suffer reproductive problems, which also has an impact on their working lives. She also raised concerns over reproductive health and the current major issues facing society as a result of the rise in sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia.


Delegates at the meeting spoke in support of the speakers and discussed issues relating to occupational health and safety, as a gender issue.

Thousands of pamphlets from MHF and WOW were distributed to conference delegates and visitors attending the meeting and were well received. A full report of the meeting and the slides from MHF and WOW will be placed onto the health and safety section of the CWU website in the near future.

An example of the documents and books available are shown in the two pics, and both organisations have a complete list of publications available detailed on the respective websites.

Written in clear, concise texts, the issues discussed provide enough detail for all to understand the health issues concerned and the specific advice and information given in the publications.

Dave Joyce concluded " This was undoubtedly the most successful event of the week outside the main conference and underlines the importance and priority our Representatives and members give to occupational health and safety"

Wellbeing of Women Website: www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk

Men's Health Forum website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk

CWU Health & Safety Dept website: www.cwu.org

Source: CWU / Unionsafety



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