Updated Union Safety Reps Brown Book Bible Now Available As previously reported in October on this website new guidance was launched by the HSE on workers representation and involvement in health and safety, whilst at the same time the HSE website pages regarding workers involvement were updated. At the October launch both the Health and Safety Minister Lord McKenzie and HSE Chair Judith Hackitt spoke strongly in support of Trade Union Safety Representatives and the benefits of better safety standards provided by actively involved Safety Reps. They also stressed the need for Employers to comply with the Law requiring consultation and involvement. Promoting the new guidance, the CWU's National Health, Safety and Environment Officer Dave Joyce issued this week details of the guidance document and the history behind it. His letter to CWU branches explains: "Consulting Workers on Health and Safety" (L146) replaces L87 (also known as 'the Brown Book). It provides the new legal guidance and contains the 1977 Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations, the 1996 Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations, along with the Approved Codes of Practice and New extended Guidance. Detailing what led to this new document he explains: After 10 years of campaigning by the Unions, much debate and several Consultation Documents, the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) had decided at its meeting that month (June 2007) that there will be no new additional rights for union safety reps but there would be new, extended legal guidance supporting Safety Reps. These were: * The formal statutory involvement of Safety Reps in Risk Assessments
* A statutory duty on employers and managers to respond in good time to safety representatives representations These proposals were strongly supported in the formal consultation on the SRSC Regulations but against the weight of opinion in support of the changes the HSC rejected the proposals due to the opposition put up by the employers federations (CBI, IOD, EEF etc). Good news for those cost conscious, explains Dave, is that the TUC has negotiated with the HSE to publish a 'free' version for use by Trade Union Health and Safety Representatives and on Training Courses. It will contain the 1977 Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations, ACoP, New Guidance, and the Appendixes. In the meantime, you can download a pdf version below. Source: CWU LTB831/08 HSE Updates Guidance On Worker Involvement In H&S TUC Launches Safety Reps Charter
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