Health and Safety

Napo Health & Safety Handbook

Workers Memorial Day 28th April 2007

“Wear a Purple Ribbon”: What is Workers Memorial Day?

Started by the Canadian Public Service Union in 1985, WMD is a day of remembrance on the anniversary of a groundbreaking “Workers’ Compensation Act” passed in 1914. April 28th was declared an official “Workers Mourning Day”, hence the slogan ‘Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living’. WMD started to be marked in the UK in 1992 and is recognised in many countries around the world. This year’s theme is “Enforcement of Health & Safety Law saves Lives” and activities are focussing on workplace cancers, particularly mesothelioma, caused by asbestos.

As part of the activities for the upcoming Workers Memorial Day on 28 April, Napo's Branches and health and safety reps will display Hazards Campaign posters showing the very low level of HSE prosecutions for Health & Safety offences, and distribute the purple memorial ribbons. H&S Reps will follow up on the asbestos removal and checking process that has taken place in the NPS and CAFCASS, checking that signs are still in place and visible, the logs are still accessible and up to date, and that the GP information exercise for staff who were identified as having worked in premises containing asbestos has been carried out.

More info on WMD is available from the Hazards Campaign at http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/wmd/index.htm

CAN YOU GET ON A LADDER AT WORK? - Health and Safety Myths

Promoting the sensible approach to Health and Safety, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has started a "Myth of the Month" on its website. This month, it's ladders & the often misquoted idea that the HSE has said it's not acceptable to use a ladder at work. The HSE says: " THE MYTH: = "HSE has banned stepladders". THE REALITY: = We have not banned stepladders - nor have we banned ladders! Despite this, the allegation is regularly repeated and some firms have fallen for the myth and acted upon it.

For straightforward, short duration work stepladders and ladders can be a good option, but you wouldn’t want to be wobbling about on them doing complex tasks for long periods. A large number of workers are seriously injured or killed using ladders and stepladders each year. So:

Yes – we want people to use the right equipment for the job.
Yes – there are some common-sense rules for using them safely.
But no – we have not banned them! "

You can see further related items, and Myths of the Month, at http//www.hse.gov.uk/myth/index.htm

No Smoking Day 14.3.07

It's national No Smoking Day today. With legislation on the ending of smoking in workplaces & public venues in England from 1st July 2007, this will soon be a reality rather than just another Awareness Day. Probation and Court services have been looking at whether there can or should be exemptions in some of their premises. Final advice from Department of Health is that these will be very slight. In the NPS the only possible area that might have some exemptions is some rooms within Hostels/AP's. Napo Branches should be starting to make sure they get into discussions with Areas(English ones;-the timing for Wales & Scotland is different) possibly around the topic of Occupational Therapy services providing 'giving-up' support, nicotine patches etc.

TUC Health and Safety Training

Napo's approach to H&S Training is to provide at least two Napo-run training days per year, plus encouraging Branches/Sections to support Reps to undertake TUC H&S training. Ideally all H&S Reps should do at least the Stage 1 TUC training, which is free, and also statutory, which means that for accredited H&S Reps, the training normally attracts paid time off. For information on training avaialble at the moment, see the links below, or if links cannot be accessed from where you are, the UnionLearn & Training TUC contacts for the Regions are at the end - they will happily send out info.

Northern Region TUC H&S Courses
Click here
Southern & Eastern Region TUC H&S Courses
Click here
Yorkshire & Humberside Region TUC H&S Courses
Click here
Midlands Region TUC H&S Courses
Click here
Wales TUC H&S Courses
Click here

Regional TUC Education Officers:
Northern Region: Ian West 0191 227 5572 iwest@tuc.org.uk
Southern & Eastern Region: Rob Hancock 0207 467 1238 rhancock@tuc.org.uk
Yorks & Humber Region: Trevor Sargison 0113 200 1071 rsargison@tuc.org.uk
Midlands region: Pete Try 0121 262 63911 ptry@tuc.org.uk
Wales TUC: Julie Cook 02920 347 0101

Work Your Proper Hours Day - How Was it For You?

TUC UNIONS SAY: Oh so slow progress on long hours (but at least there is some progress)

Unpaid overtime is on the decline, but progress is so slow that it will take until 2030 to end regular unpaid overtime of more than 10 hours every week, according to a TUC analysis of official statistics. The new research, published on 23 February to mark the TUC's Work Your Proper Hours Day 2007, (the day when people who do unpaid overtime would on average get paid if they did all their unpaid work at the start of the year) describes progress as 'glacial'. TO find out more, click here

Today is Mesothelioma Action Day

Hundreds of thousands more will die

"Hundreds of thousands more will die", said in a portentious voice, is a joke phrase from a TV advert for a well-known bleach, about bacteria in the toilet.
However, this is also an entirely serious prediction from the campaign groups working in the field of asbestos, exposure to which can cause cancer - mesothelioma and/or lung cancer particularly. Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK could die from asbestos-related cancer, latest estimates suggest. Just one deadly asbestos cancer, mesothelioma is now killing 2,000 people each year in the in the UK - one death every five hours. But for every mesothelioma death at least one person - and probably many more - will die from asbestos related lung cancer. Latest estimates suggest this could mean at least 120,000 people and probably substantially more are still to die as a result of Britain's asbestos disease epidemic - an epidemic predicted by unions and campaign groups, who have for decades called for stricter controls on asbestos. The price paid by working people is spelled out in a new YouTube video from the Forum of Asbestos Victim Support Groups. The extraordinary case, recently publicised, of a woman who appears to have contracted the disease in adulthood, from having hugged her father, who worked in shipyards, as a child, demonstrates how deadly and invasive the substance can be. To read more about this, click here
As part of the activities for the upcoming Workers Memorial Day - 28 April - Napo is planning to encourage its health and safety reps to follow up on the removal and checking process that has taken place in the NPS and CAFCASS, checking that signs are still in place and visible, the logs are still accessible and up to date, and that the GP information exercise for staff who were identified as having worked in premises containing asbestos has been carried out.

London RSIAction event Sat 24 Feb 2007

The London RSI Support Group are running a program of awareness events all day on Saturday at South Cloisters, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT.
For directions and program details, click here

Go Home on TIme Today - Work Your Proper Hours Day Friday 23 Feb 2007

Work Your Proper Hours Day (23 Feb 2007) is the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime finishes the unpaid days they do every year, and starts earning for themselves. We think that's a day worth celebrating.
Over five million people at work in the UK regularly do unpaid overtime, giving their employers £23 billion of free work every year. If you're one, why not take some time to reflect on how well (or badly) you're balancing your life?
This is one day in the year to make the most of your own time. Take a proper lunchbreak and leave work on time to enjoy your Friday evening - You deserve it!
But this day is only a start in cracking the long hours culture. There are some more easy steps you can take throughout the year:
1: When's your day?
Work Your Proper Hours Day for 2007 will be 23 February, but your own pay day may come earlier or later, depending on the hours you work above your contracted hours. Why not make a point to have a proper lunchbreak that day, not just a hurried sandwich at your desk, and leave on time for once to really enjoy your own time in the evening?
2: Tackle your own long hours problems
Long hours are not good for us; they cause stress; they're bad for our health; they wreck relationships; they make caring for children or dependents more difficult; and tired, burnt-out staff are bad for business.
If you can, have a look at the TUC’s special website page: www.worksmart.org.uk/workyourproperhoursday where you will find an online quiz, games and tips about working your proper hours.

More Info for RSI Awareness Day 24 Feb 2007

Repetitive Strain Injury affects hundreds of thousands of workers every year in Britain. RSI covers a wide range of injuries to muscles, tendons and nerves. For office work we think of hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulders and necks in relation to IT work. For these the term WRULD - Work Related Upper Limb Disorder - is sometimes used. However the problem can affect other parts of the body such as knees and feet, where jobs involve repetition, intensity, vibration and/or awkward posture. If you think you may be affected or would like to find out a bit more, click on the headings below for useful info and links.
RSI - other names for the condition, and TUC links
Brief TUC guide to best workstation setup to avoid RSI
RSI Symptoms, and Advice for Napo Members
Book Advert: "From Hand to Mouth" price £4.99 - a guide from the Workers Health Advice Team in West Yorkshire
The TUC Worksmart website has advice on this topic and many other work-related items - find them at http://www.worksmart.org.uk

Events for Mesothelioma Action Day 27 Feb 2007

The TUC are supporting this action day for victims of exposure to asbestos. To see the programme of activities around the country, click on the name of the area:
Greater Manchester
Merseyside & Cheshire
Derbyshire
Sheffield & Rotherham
Newcastle
Yorks & Humber (Ridings)
Birmingham, Liverpool & Manchester
London - note 21 Feb Event at House of Commons

Upcoming Health & Safety Event: Mesothelioma Action Day 27 Feb 2007

Mesothelioma Action Day, 27 February 2007

The second Mesothelioma Action Day will be held on 27 February 2007. As well as a
parliamentary reception at the House of Commons, there will be events in Manchester,
Chesterfield, Leicester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Rotherham, Gateshead, Leeds and elsewhere. A
purpose produced short video presentation to raise awareness of the UK mesothelioma
epidemic will be shown throughout February 27 on giant BBC TV screens in city centres
including Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. The day aims to highlight the rising death
toll from asbestos cancers, the lack of government funding for treatment and the underestimated
risk from relatively small asbestos exposures.
• For further information, see the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat website at www.btinternet.com/~ibas . Also
see Asbestos Forum at http://www.asbestosforum.org.uk and the Hazards Campaign website at http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uka>.

RSI Awareness Day Sat 24 Feb 2007

RSI Action in association with LONDON RSI SUPPORT GROUP present

RSI AWARENESS DAY 2007 - SAT 24 FEB

from 10:00 to 16:00 - FREE entrance (see www.RSIAction.org.uk for
latest details)
Venue: South Cloisters, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT(Nearest underground - Euston)

An opportunity to find out about RSI conditions, treatments, therapies, how
to work round the limitations of RSI conditions, how to seek assistance.
There will be stalls and exhibitions from organisations, groups and
individuals dedicated to helping those with RSI conditions. Members of RSI
Action and RSI Support Groups will also be available to provide advice.

Entrance is free . People with
RSI conditions, their friends, practitioners and anybody who would like to
know more about living with these conditions are welcome.

The exhibition room and stands will be available all-day to provide advice
and information. Presentations are time-tabled in the conference rooms
(details will be available before the event on the web-site). For fuller detail of the presentations, workshops and exhibitors,click here

Health Events Reminder - Raynaud's & Scleroderma Month 1 - 28 Feb 2007

From 1 Feb it's Raynaud's and Scleroderma Awareness Month - this is a circulatory condition particularly affecting hands & feet and can lead to skin problems.
TO find out more, Raynaud's Disease and Scleroderma Association can be contacted on:

T 01270 872 776
F 01270 883 556
Freephone 0800 917 2494
Email:info@raynauds.org.uk
Website: www.raynauds.org.uk

Personal Safety

Personal Safety at work is an important issue for everyone, and Napo issued a Personal Safety Guidance Leaflet with Napo News last Autumn. Space restrictions dictated that this was a shortened version - to see the full 9-page version, including comprehensive guidance from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, click here.

The NPS used the advice and training services of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust in the development of the National Health and Safety Manual, which was issued as PC 75-05. The Trust also appeared at a popular session at Napo's 2005 AGM in Hove. They can be contacted on 0208 876 0305 or at www.suzylamplugh.org.