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10:00 to 16:00 (BST) The Liner Hotel Over 70 Trade Union Safety Reps, Union Mental Health First Aiders and Union reps attended today's conference organised by the North West TUC in Liverpool.
CWU was well presented with members from Royal Mail Group, and BT being amongst the delegates listening to guest speakers on the subjects of contamination at work, Covid in the workplace, the need for more union safety reps. Workshops dealing with mental health issues, the menopause and its awareness and contaminated workplaces took place in the morning session before lunch, with reports back to delegates. This was followed by speakers on the affects of Long Covid and managing it.
The day's full events:
Jay McKenna, TUC North West regional secretary Speakers: •Shelly Asquith, TUC Health and Safety policy officer Followed by Q & A, and opportunity to feedback on ongoing work in your union
12.30pm LUNCH 1.30pm Long covid and bereaved families Delegates also heard from Les Skarratts of the FBU speaking on their very important Decon campaign to highlight the toxic substances firefighters and others are exposed to.
Les told the delegates that such chemicals cause cancers and other detrimental diseases which shorten the life of those exposed to them. As a result firefighters are 323% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer compared to the general population.
Further events within the USR timetable of education and events, were announced.
The section explains: ' Covid personal injury claims can be broken down into 3 elements any claim requires success at all of the 3 elements.' The document adds: 'We've identified the types of questions you may wish to consider to help pursue a claim under each stage. It's important to identify as much independent evidence as possible such as witness statements and Assessments. Also record dates where applicable. This is not an exhaustive list.' A key set of questions relating to the Employers actions and their responsobility to protect their workfoce and implement Covid-19 preventative measures are also provided on page 7 of the document: Appendix 3: Assessment Mitigation Questions about Employer actions. The document has been put together by Janet Newsham from GM Hazards and the North West Trade Union Covid Support Group, and it can be downloaded from the Unionsafety E-Library. Use search word 'Covid' to find a list of documents on the issues surrounding Covid-19 inlcuding this latest document, or click on the pic to the left.
Pictures above of the event provided by CWU North West Health & Safety Forum members: Steve Kenna, and John Southwell Source: CWU / NW TUC / GM Hazards
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AGENDA
Workshops:
• Michelle Greaves, NEU
Those attending took away with them documentation and information which will help Union Safety Reps to address the issues discussed in their workplaces and continue their work in preventing deaths and injuries.
Included in the documentation is a GM Hazards report into toxic chemicals in the workplace. In an 8 page report entitled North West Long Covid Charter there is a checklist for Union Safety Reps and workers to aid them in their legal injury claims against their employers.