Health & Safety News Brief
Occupational Health & Safety Information Service

Speak up for better safety reps' rights!

The Health and Safety Executive has now published the dates of its regional 'discussion meetings', to road test opinion on new workers' cons ultation rights.

HSE last month issued a consultative document, after lengthy pressure from the TUC, and now wants 'to seek views on how to encourage, improve and increase worker involvement in health and safety risk management.'

TUC is urging union reps to attend the eight consultative meetings, to be held in May and June in Wales, Scotland and England, to put the case for extended union safety rep and other safety rights, including the right to issue Provisional Improvement Notices (PINs), the right to stop the job and the right to a response from the employer.

• Meeting dates and locations: 24 May, Cardiff, 17.30-19.30; 25 May, Cardiff, 08.30-10.30; 31 May, Scotland (location to be finalised), 17.30-19.30; 1 June, Scotland (location to be finalised), 08.30-10.30; 6 June, Manchester, 17.30-19.30; 7 June, Manchester, 08.30-10.30; 13 June, London, 17.30-19.30; 16 June, London, 09.30-11.30.
• Improving worker involvement - Improving health and safety, Consultative Document CD207, full consultative document, summary document, print-off-and-use feedback form and online feedback form. Single printed copies of the Consultative Document and summary can be obtained from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA. Tel: 01787 881165, Fax: 01787 313 995. Comments should be sent to arrive by 8 September 2006 to: Zoe Woodrow, Worker Involvement Programme, HSE, 5th Floor, North Wing, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS.