CWU Announce Health Safety Fringe Meeting And Exhibition At Conference 2010

The CWU's annual conference to be held at the end of this month at the Bournemouth International Conference Centre will once gain include a special fringe meeting on Health and Safety as well as an exhibition area available throughout the conference itself.

The announcement was made via LTB423/10 in which Dave Joyce, the Union's National Health, Safety & Environment Officer writes to all branches:

"I am pleased to announce the Health, Safety and Environment Department's arrangements of a special health and safety fringe meeting and a health and safety exhibition stand for delegates that have been organised at 2010 CWU Annual Conference and we hope that delegates will make full use of this year's provisions and take the time to attend both our ever popular fringe meeting and visit the Health & Safety Stand during the week of conference."

Delegates attending the exhibition can speak to experts from the Health and Safety Executive(HSE) and pick up copies of a range of various publications, booklets, pamphlets and information that will be made available.

Dave added: " Once again these arrangements are organised for delegates' benefit and in support of the Health, Safety and Environment Department's campaigning involvement on Occupational Health and Safety issues.

The Health and Safety fringe meeting again feature two very high profile speakers from the HSE in David Smeatham Head of the HSE's Worker Involvement Unit at HSE HQ and Eddie Tarn HSE Inspector and new Head of the HSE's Utilities Sector with responsibility for British Telecom Group and Royal Mail Group."

Health & Safety Lunch Time Fringe Meeting

Monday 24th May at 12.45pm

The Solent Hall at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC)

The theme of this event is "HSE Worker Involvement and the HSE "Do Your Bit" initiative.

Buffet lunch & refreshments will be provided.

Speakers: David Smeatham Head of the HSE's Worker Involvement Unit at HSE HQ

Eddie Tarn HSE Inspector and new Head of the HSE's Utilities Sector with responsibility for British Telecom Group and Royal Mail Group.

The LTB gives further information about the fringe meeting: 

HSE places great importance on worker involvement and consultation. HSE's "Do Your Bit" initiative is telling employers that their workers influence health and safety through their own actions. The workers are often the best people to understand the risks in their workplace. Talking, listening and co-operating can help to achieve benefits. HSE is telling employers to work more with Health and Safety Representatives because there are clear benefits from better worker involvement. HSE say they know that workplaces where employees and safety reps play an active part in health and safety, those workplaces have lower accident rates.

Employers in collaboration with their employees helps manage health and safety in a practical way by: helping managers to spot workplace risks, making sure health and safety controls are practical and increasing the level of commitment to working in a safe and healthy way. In many cases this also leads to increased productivity, efficiency and quality.

HSE's "Do Your Bit" initiative includes a drive to get more Safety Representatives to come forward and represent their colleagues, helping make the workplace healthier and safer with support from HSE which includes new free or subsidising training courses. The initiative is telling workers to talk to their colleagues and employer about being a health and safety representative and sign up for the HSE training. (See attached copies of the Do Your Bit" initiative materials). Worker involvement is fundamental to good health and safety performance. This is because people who do the job of Safety Rep can: recognise risks in the workplace, understand how health and safety risks are reduced and make positive changes in the workplace. A workplace employee who can represent the views of their colleagues is a great way of involving the entire workforce in matters concerning their health and safety.

The Event Sponsored by the CWU's Solicitors and Top Trade Union Solicitors Simpson Millar - Our sincere thanks for their support.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Stand

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be providing a stand in the Conference exhibition area on Monday and Tuesday 24th and 25th May where Eddie Tarn HSE Principle Inspector and new Head of the HSE's Utilities Sector with responsibility for British Telecom Group and Royal Mail Group will be available to speak to delegates and Health and safety Reps. Other HSE colleagues will be on the stands with lots of HSE information available.

Come and speak to the HSE experts and make use of the resources and information, advice and HSE literature provided for your benefit.

All delegates and visitors are encouraged to attend the fringe meeting, visit the Health and Safety Stands at the Conference Centre during the week and take away information and resources.

Source: CWU

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