European Health And Safety Week Set For 19-25 October 2015

European Health and Safety Week will take place in the third week of October (Monday 19 - Sunday 25 October).  The European Agency for Safety & Health at Work coordinates the week across Europe. The theme is Workplace Stress for the second year running.

The Wednesday of European Health and Safety Week (21st October) is traditionally National Inspection Day when all safety representatives are encouraged to inspect their workplace.

Below are two useful links. One from the from the European Agency for Safety & Health at Work containing material from its ‘Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress’ campaign. This contains material, tips and tools to manage stress and psychosocial risks in the workplace. The other from the TUC providing details of the week.

https://www.healthy-workplaces.eu/en

https://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/health-and-safety/european-health-and-safety-week

With the theme for a second year being Work Related Stress, it is imperative that workplace safety reps get behind this campaign and tackle some of the issues within their workplaces.

The UK has probably the highest level of work related stress in Europe according to national figures, and despite the wealth of advice to business from the HSE, via the Management Standards on stress and the likes of the Business In The Community website, it is clear that most employers from the civil service to major blue chip companies and down to SME's; are simply ignoring the advice given on how to tackle stress at work. Indeed through private HR companies style of tackling work related illnesses in a punitive manner; it can safely be said that the UK has the sickest workforce across the EU.

With some major companies such as Royal Mail Group leading the way in working with their Trade Unions, in this case, the CWU; there still remains a lot to be done. Furthermore, despite the UK Governments view that H&S legislation is too difficult and costly for business to adhere, and hence slashing it; evidence proves that only through legislation will the behaviour of employers towards the health, safety and welfare of their employees ever change.

The UK business model seems to be one of short termism - employ as few workers as possible, make them work until they drop and the profits will come lining into the coffers!

Further information on the European Week of Health & Safety 2015 will follow in the next few weeks.

Source: CWU / Unionsafety

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