Free online conference: Toxic Chemicals – risk prevention through use reduction

Toxic Chemicals: Risk prevention through use reduction

Friday, 25th February, 9.30-11.30am
Speakers include:
– Bud Hudspith, Unite Union Health and Safety
– Dan Shears, GMB National director of Health, Safety and Environment
– Professor Andy Watterson, Stirling University
– Hilda Palmer, Hazards Campaign

Organised by: Greater Manchester Hazards Centre

Register at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/toxic-chemicals-risk-prevention-through-use-reduction-tickets-251110557437 or email: janet@gmhazards.org.uk

  •  Do you work in the manufacturing, shipbuilding, aerospace or engineering sector?
  • Are you exposed to chemicals in your work?
  • How many workers or ex workers do you know have suffered or died from cancer? Or from asthma, heart/lung other organ disease?
  • Do you know if it was related to exposure to work chemicals?
  • How do we limit the use of toxic chemicals in manufacturing processes?
  • With Brexit ‘done’, how is your health being protected from dangerous chemicals?
  • Why do you need to attend this conference?

The conference will discuss how to address the toxic chemical cocktail we are exposed to – Approaching 100,000 chemicals are used in workplaces worldwide. Barely 1 in a 100 has been thoroughly tested for health risks. Over 50 substances are rated by the United Nations’ International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a definite or probable cancer risk at work. Over 100 more are IARC rated as a possible cancer risk. What can trade unions do to protect workers from the short and long term harm chemicals cause?

Register

Candlelight vigils to remember workers killed by Covid-19 – March 11th, 2022

March 11th is the anniversary of when WHO declared the Covid-19 outbreak  a pandemic.

Thousands of workers have died because they have been exposed to infection at work and workers need employers to control the risks and Governments to provide the resources needed to protect workers and others in workplaces.

The Hazards Campaign encourages workers and their representatives to organise or attend events across the UK to remember all those workers who have died because of Covid-19 since the pandemic began.

Light candles, hold up pictures of work colleagues and loved ones who have died and invite people to say something about them.

Invite family members, workers, local trade unionists and politicians to support the event and remind them that workers are still facing risks in the workplace every day.

It should be going dark by about 6.00pm in March.  If people can’t or don’t want to attend an event they can to put a poster in their window or light a candle safely on their door step, and post a picture online using a hashtag.

Some suggestions for social media

#Candle4CovidkilledWorkers

#VigilForWorkers

#ShineLightOnWorkers

Share details of your events

Send information about what you are doing in your city, town or workplace to janet@gmhazards.org.uk so that we can share them on social media and through our trade union networks

More information

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/123746101003963

Twitter https://twitter.com/hazardscampaign

Website https://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/

Email janet@gmhazards.org.uk

 

The party’s over – the Hazards Campaign calls on the Government to reverse their deadly Covid-19 policies

News bulletin for immediate release – 28 January 2022 No embargo

Delegates at the Friday 28 January meeting of the Hazards Campaign demand action, from the Government to enforce existing occupational safety law and prosecute employers that break the law, and to reverse their abandonment of occupational public health mitigation.

The latest statistics from Government show a huge number of workplace outbreaks. (1)

The Covid crisis in the UK has been led by a government that not only admits to breaking Covid law, but also abdicates all responsibility for controlling transmission of this deadly virus.

Janet Newsham of Hazards Campaign said: “The Hazards Campaign continues to support workers and trade union reps in untangling the confused, unscientific, unsafe and unlawful government guidance, apparently produced to force workers and others into unsafe and unhealthy workplaces, without adequate risk assessments and appropriate control measures. “

Newsham continued: “One example of this flawed approach can be found in the Department of Education operational guidance that tells employers to ignore Risk Assessments that call for remote working and allows the removal of face coverings/masks. This flies in the face of all reason and seriously jeopardises safety.” (2)

Enforcement through the pandemic has been woeful. There has been a complete absence of Covid-19 prosecutions by the HSE/Local Authority inspectors.  Lots of employers have failed to prevent infections and the result has been the deaths and long-term ill health of workers.  RIDDOR reports have been submitted in far too few cases of Covid-19 deaths, infections and for those workers who continue to suffer debilitating ill health, and no prosecutions have been made on the lack of RIDDOR reports either.

Therefore the Hazards Campaign calls for:

1. Full and proper enforcement of health and safety law as the paramount protective law at work.
2.  The prosecution of employers putting workers lives at risk.
3.  A reversal of the abdication of the Governments Covid-19 mitigation policy and the return of Plan B.
4. The development of an agreed plan with trade unions to provide safe workplaces for all workers through collective scientifically proven layered preventions.

No-one should be harmed or made ill simply going to work, especially when the mitigations to prevent infections are known.

Workers should not have to fight for their health, lives and livelihoods in a global viral pandemic when there are laws intended to protect them at work.

Notes to Editors

(1) Weekly national Influenza and COVID-19 surveillance report Week 3 report (up to week 2 data) 20 January 2022 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1048531/Weekly_Flu_and_COVID-19_report_w3.pdf
(1) Higher education COVID-19 operational guidance
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1048605/180122_Higher_education_COVID-19_operational_guidance.pdf

Other relevant information:

  1.  Return to work controlling the risks: https://gmhazards.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Covid-19-Controlling-risks-in-the-workplace.pdf
  2. Ventilation information – https://www.hazards.org/infections/venting.htm
  3. Hazards Campaign event – What next for workers after Plan B? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5srlOq1o4e4
  4. Hazards Campaign recordings: https://www.facebook.com/Hazards-Campaign-online-recordings-and-podcasts-225138836151169

Links

For More Information
Janet Newsham
janet@gmhazards.org.uk
07734317158

Additional Information
Website www.hazardscampaign.org.uk
Twitter @hazardscampaign
Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/123746101003963

The Hazards Campaign is a UK-wide network of resource centres and campaigners. The Hazards Campaign supports those organising and campaigning for justice and safety at work

New safety reps support guide published

Greater Manchester Hazards Centre (GMHC) has published a new guide for union safety reps: Supporting our elected trade union safety representatives

GMHC worker Janet Newsham said: “It is about providing trade unions with information about taking a more proactive approach to supporting safety reps. ”

GMHC has taken examples of good practice from organisations at national, regional, branch and workplace level and responded to some of the concerns raised by reps at the Hazards Campaign Thursday talk drop ins.

Janet continued: “Since the beginning of the pandemic, trade union safety reps have been fighting an ongoing challenge in workplaces to ensure their employers are putting in place mitigations against the infection risks by Covid-19.

“This has been especially challenging with the new highly transmissible variant Omicron.  To add to the pressures suffered by workers, thousands of workers are off work sick with the virus and hundreds of thousands suffering from long-Covid.”

The guide aims to encourage trade unions to put in place additional support for safety reps, whose own health is suffering from the continued pressures caused by the virus.

Janet said “Safety reps have been on the frontline supporting workers working from home and preventing Covid transmission in workplaces.  At this time, when Government are all but abandoning workers and employers from preventing widespread infections across the country, safety reps must be supported by their trade unions.  Most trade unions have put in place online training, many have held online safety reps meetings but there is more that can and should be done.

“Safety reps have suffered from continual pressure from confusing Government guidance, inadequate mitigation or enforcement of mitigation and many suffering from bereavements and mental and physical exhaustion.  Trade unions must do all they can to provide additional support for safety reps.  This booklet provides information and ideas to help trade unions support safety reps.”

Supporting our elected trade union safety representatives

https://gmhazards.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Supporting-Safety-Reps-final-draft-jan-2022.pdf

 

 

Hazards Campaign Safety reps drop in session – Thursday 13th January 6-7pm

Do you want to ask a question or raise a concern about a health and safety issue at work?

Are you looking for support or information?

This is an interactive Zoom online session, which is not going to be recorded.  It is an opportunity to discuss any health and safety concerns you have in your workplace.

Register here

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/safety-reps-drop-in-session-tickets-239937598817 

Further information

Controlling Risks in the Workplace Hazards Campaign

Venting: Coronavirus risks are mostly up in the air, Hazards magazine

Hands face space won’t cut it. Ventilation. Ventilation. Ventilation!  Hazards Campaign PowerPoint

Working with a computer at home, Hazards Campaign briefing

Resources from the COP26 coalition People’s Summit event ‘What about the Workers?’

Below  you will find the agenda of the very successful Hazards Campaign /Scottish Hazards Cop26 event on 8 November 2021 – What about the Workers? – making workplaces safe for workers and the environment. The listing includes  links to the speakers’ presentation slides.  The meeting was not recorded.

6.30pm – Introduction and welcome by the event chair Scott Donohue – Scottish Hazards

6.35pm – Alison Tate, International Trade Union Confederation on Just Transition from a global perspective  

6.43pm – Björn Claeson , Electronics Watch – Ensuring workers rights and safety alongside clean production in electronics

6.51pm – Prof Andrew Watterson, Stirling University on Toxics Use Reduction.

6.59pm – Ram Charitra Sah, Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational and Environmental Victims (ANROEV) – Toxic legacy of bad work inside workplaces and in communities

7.07pm – Hilda Palmer, UK Trade Union Clean Air Network – What about the workers?

7.15pm – General discussion Q&A

PLUS Kathy Jenkins, Scottish Hazards sums up the  action points.

______________________________________________________________________

Links in full

Alison Tate presentation – https://gmhazards.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Alison-Tate-Just-Transition-and-CEPOW-for-COP26-OHS.pdf

Bjorn Claeson presentation – https://gmhazards.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Bjorn-Claeson-.pdf

Andy Watterson presentation – https://gmhazards.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Final-Toxics-Use-Reduction-AEW-8-Nov-2021.pdf

Ram Charitra Sah presentation – https://gmhazards.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Mr.-Ram-Charitra-Sah-ANROEV-Coordinator-COP-26-Climate-Change-Presentation-8th-November-2021.pdf

Hilda Palmer presentation – https://gmhazards.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/HIldas-What-about-the-Workers-8.11.21.pdf

Kathy Jenkins summary of actions – https://gmhazards.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/COP26-Peoples-summit-summary-speech.pdf

 

Bill Lawrence: Funeral arrangements – 26 November 2021

Bill’s funeral will be on 26th November at Our Lady and St Columba’s Church, Carville Road Wallsend, NE28 6RJ at 1.30 pm and 3.00 pm at Tynemouth Crematorium, Walton Ave, North Shields NE29 9NJ.

For those who would have liked to be at the funeral but can’t, then the service is being live streamed on YouTube by following the link – https//wallsendcatholic.church which has a link to the Wallsend Catholic Churches YouTube Channel where the live streaming will start approximately 5 minutes before the service.

 

Hazards Campaign Thursday talk – Safety reps’ interactive drop in session

Safety reps’ drop in session – Thursday 11th November 6-7pm

Do you want to ask a question or raise a concern about a health and safety issue at work? Are you looking for support or information?

This is an interactive session and is not going to be recorded. It is an opportunity to discuss any health and safety concerns you have in your workplace.

REGISTER HERE

LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION 

Controlling Risks in the Workplace Hazards Campaign

Venting: Coronavirus risks are mostly up in the air, Hazards magazine

Hands face space won’t cut it. Ventilation. Ventilation. Ventilation!  Hazards Campaign PowerPoint

Working with a computer at home, Hazards Campaign briefing

Subscribe to Hazards magazine

 

 

COP26 coalition People’s Summit event – 8 November – ‘What about the Workers? Making workplaces safe for workers and the environment’ – register on

Scottish Hazards and the UK Hazards Campaign has organised an event for the COP26 coalition People’s Summit.

The online event on 8 November – ‘What about the workers?   Making workplaces safe for workers and the environment’ – is a round table discussion which will look at the connected issues of toxics use reduction, air pollution inside and outside of the workplace, workplace adaption to address climate change and just transition for working people.

Register at https://cop26coalition.org/peoples-summit/what-about-the-workers-making-workplaces-safe-for-workers-and-the-environment-2/

Programme

6.30pm – Introduction and welcome by the event chair Scott Donohoe – Scottish Hazards

6.35pm – Alison Tate, International Trade Union Confederation on Just Transition from a global perspective

6.43pm – Björn Claeson , Electronics Watch – ensuring workers rights and safety along side clean production in electronics

6.51pm – Prof Andrew Watterson, Stirling University on Toxic Use Reduction;

6.59pm – Ram Charitra Sah, Asian Network for the Rights of Occupational and Environmental Victims (ANROEV) – Toxic legacy of bad work inside workplaces and in communities

7.07pm – Hilda Palmer, UK Trade Union Clean Air Network – Workers are the canaries in the system ?

7.15pm – General discussion Q&A

7.55pm – Eurig Scandrett, UCU Scotland and Just and Green Recovery will sum the action points up.

 

Hazards Campaign Thursday Talk: Fighting our corner

Fighting our Corner
Hazards Campaign Thursday Talk
Thursday October 21st – 6-7.30pm

Every day there are new cases of Covid-19. The Governments around the UK have all but given up with Public Health mitigation and Health and Safety Law is not being enforced in the workplace.

What can Safety reps and others who are affected by the lack of mitigation in a working environment do to protect themselves and prevent infections?

Join us on Zoom to discuss with a panel of experts, what you can do in your workplace to keep yourself and others safe and healthy.

Our panel includes

  • Tracy Edwards – PCS National health and safety officer
  • Hilda Palmer – Hazards Campaign / Facilitator at FACK
  • Cat Cray – RMT London Underground health and safety rep
  • James Robertson – Unison Knowsley Branch Secretary
Register at

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hazards-campaign-thursday-talk-fighting-our-corner-tickets-185568870487

Links to more information: