European Health And Safety Week In BT

The European Health and Safety Campaign for 2010 will be focussing on “Safe Maintenance” and safe workplaces. The week is scheduled for the 25-29 October inclusive.

The BT Unions must use this campaign, working jointly with BT, to make an impact in enhancing understanding of how safe maintenance can create a safer workplace and, in turn, reduce accidents where inadequate or lack of maintenance has been a factor.

As in previous years there will be lots of activities going on including:

*         A poster campaign in conjunction with the BT Unions that will be appearing in BT buildings.

*         There will be a dedicated website that will contain additional resources such a briefing notes and short videos starring a health and safety character called “NAPO” highlighting various situations that can arise.

*         From 25 October there will be a survey available to all BT people where they can give qualitative feedback on any issues they might have. The completion of this questionnaire will be vital in improving understanding of safe maintenance throughout BT and in running future health and safety campaigns.

The main aim of the week is to raise awareness about the importance of safe maintenance in creating a safe workplace by promptly identifying and reporting any item of equipment or fixtures and fittings that need repair or replacement.

Some ideas for investigating safe maintenance in the BT access network are: PCPs (cabinets), duct seals in TE cable chambers and travelling ladders in TEs; guidance on relevant BT safe maintenance procedures will be provided in due course.  Also, reporting and following up of building faults should be encouraged.

As usual we will be promoting joint inspections during the week.  The CWU, Prospect and BT are all committed to raising the awareness and importance of identifying and reporting equipment in need of maintenance so as to continue reducing accident rates.

Union Safety Representatives will be undertaking site visits to carry out checks and talking to as many people as possible during the week to raise awareness of the importance of safe maintenance and the prompt reporting of identified problems.  Requests by USRs for time to do this should be made to the employer as early as possible and in the usual way, and these will be treated sympathetically whenever operationally possible. 
If necessary USR activity can continue beyond the week.

Managers will be encouraged to spend as much time as operationally possible reviewing their work environment and reporting any issues to the appropriate helpdesk to get them resolved.

Source: CWU LTB816/10

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