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Keep out of danger

13 July 2010

There's a general consensus that young people are particularly at risk in the workplace. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures show that in 2005-06, 20 workers aged between 16-24 were killed in work related incidents. Lincs YM convenor Nick Parker explains the importance of health and safety.

If you’re anything like me, your job can be hard work. Targets are tight, the work keeps piling up, you have to complete it quicker than ever, and you can feel the weight of expectation on your shoulders from various sources.

You probably work with computers for long periods of time too. If you work in a call centre, you may have suffered from an acoustic shock or had hearing problems due to the job design. All of these concerns make health and safety a key area of work for our union.

The right wing media and politicians often criticise health and safety laws. They hysterically cry out about school children being banned from playing conkers, taking part in egg and spoon races, and village fetes being cancelled.

Know your rights

In reality, these myths are often either a product of fiction or massively exaggerated. The Health and Safety Executive produces an excellent ‘myth of the month’ series to try and counter these myths – www.hse.gov.uk/myth

Health and safety laws were introduced to protect workers and the public from harm. Before they were introduced, dangerous working conditions in workplaces across Britain caused the premature deaths of thousands of working people.

Tragically, 180 people were killed at work last year and more than 27,000 suffered major injury. This demonstrates the continued importance of union organising around health and safety to protect workers.

Our role in the workplace

Trade union safety representatives have significant legal powers in investigating accidents and improving workplaces. If you are interested in becoming a union safety rep, talk to your local PCS rep.

The cuts being threatened by the current Government will have an impact on the health and safety of PCS members and their colleagues. Let’s build a united campaign to oppose cuts, as well as fighting to protect the health and well-being of staff and service users.

Did you know?

In 2005-06 almost 4,000 young workers suffered major injuries such as amputations and time in hospital from work incidents – around 11 every day. ‘Lesser’ injuries, which still require more than three days off work, affected nearly 15,000 young workers – that’s 40 per day.

The HSE says that young men aged 16-24 face a 40% higher relative risk of all workplace injury than men aged 45-54. The European Agency for Health and Safety at Work estimates that across the continent, workers aged 18-24 are at least 50% more likely to be injured at work than their more experienced counterparts.

It’s a popular myth that young workers are killed or injured because they fool around or are immature. In fact, the accident statistics suggest it’s inexperience that explains the higher risk – in other words – the newer you are to the job, the more likely you are to be injured.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 young workers should receive the same protection as other workers. This includes the right to information, training, supervision and a safe and healthy workplace. These regulations require employers to carry out risk assessments on all hazards and to implement prevention and control measures to protect workers.

Get trained up

The TUC offers comprehensive training on Health and Safety in the workplace. These include tackling stress, risk assessment, occupational health, accident investigation and reporting and mental health awareness. For more details visit the union learn site.

If you’re interested in becoming a health and safety rep, speak to you branch secretary in the first instance or you PCS regional office.
 

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