Health and Safety
to Napo's Health and Safety Pages - click on the icons for Napo's blue & white H&S Reps' Handbook; useful H&S Links; Awareness Days and the H&S Reps' Bulletin.
Health & Safety news
New advice for Napo Members
If you can't get work completed due to IT failure please consider following the procedure in the link, which records the problem and is aimed at rasing awareness of the true cost of IT problems: HS22 2011 Advice to Members Notification of inability to complete task due to IT systems failure Nov 2011 doc
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Napo H&S Training in Pictures - "Back To Basics"
New and prospective H&S Reps met at Friends House in London to learn about the role of the HSE; the TUC; risk assessments, and inspections. The day was tutored by John Hague, until recently Assistive Technology Manager for London Probation and Co-Chair of Napo's national health and safety committee, with support from Mike McClelland, our national Health and Safety official plus some 'old hands' who came to encourage the newbies and get a bit of a refresher. Click here to see pictures from the day.
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Upcoming Training
Weds 28th March 2012 : Display Screen Assessments, Ergonomics & AT issues - Priory Rooms, Birmingham
Our next H&S Training will look at DSE and the associated ergonomic and assestive technology issues. The Priory Rooms are a lovely newly-refurbished venue very close to both New Street and Snow Hill stations. Advance registration is essential, as numbers are limited. - Closing date is 7th March: booking forms available from Margaret Pearce: mpearce@napo.org.uk
TUC Stage 1 H&S Training for H&S Reps
All Napo H&S Reps are encouraged to try & do the TUC's Stage 1 H&S Training. The sessions run at many local adult & further education colleges round the country - usually one day a week for 12 weeks or 4 sets of 3 days. Details of the course outline and starting dates can be found at http://www.unionlearn.org.uk/education/index.cfm?mins=12
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Annual H&S Questionnaire at AGM
2011's questionnaire on Stress at Work had over 170 responses and is currently being analysed in detail. Initial assessment highlights the key role that good, supportive management plays in reducing stress. Read what some people said in the "comments" section after they filled in the questionnaire: 2012 AGM H&S Questionnaire
2010's had over 90 responses - highlighted were: Lack of awareness of H&S inspections; lack of asbestos awareness; problems with space, hotdesking, overcrowding and open plan working. It was heartening to see a high level of awareness of local policies on home visiting/lone working. Fire drills were reported as reasonably regular and well-organised. There were frequent mentions of Workers Memorial Day (28th April annually) - usually in relation to alarm testing. This year's 2011 questionnaire was all about stress: AGM 2011 H&S Stress questionnaire. Over 160 responses came back - results are being analysed and will be reported on in Napo News and the H&S Bulletin.
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Safer Court Working
Relating to the 'poor relation' status of probation staff in courts and lack of access safe facilities, a Memorandum of Understanding between NOMS (Probation) and HM Courts Service (HMCS) was signed in 2010, and is now in place. Branches and local Health and Safety Reps are urged to ensure that this significant document is observed locally to improve working conditions for Napo members/Probation staff.