Health and safety zone

Hazards magazine
Sign up for RISKS the TUCs weekly online health and safety bulletin
CCA website

HSE website

Search consultation responses:

Search all UNISON documents:

UNISON responses to consultation

Showing 1-10 of 17
 
< Back | More >
 
Flexible Warrants - Unison's response
21 December 2007
UNISON's response to HSE consultation on the use of flexible warrants between environmental health officers (EHOs) from different local authorities and between EHOs and HSE inspectors.
Acrobat PDF versionAcrobat PDF
 
Letter to Geoffrey Podger re: HSE Report, Worker Involvement
22 May 2007
Letter to Geoffrey Podger re: HSE Report, Worker Involvement: results of the consultation exercise and a proposed approach to current and future work.
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
 
NICE workplace smoking draft guidance
23 February 2007
UNISON believes that a realistic approach that recognises: that smoking is an addiction; that not every worker will want to or be able to give up within a given time frame; and that workers who smoke are adults; will have far more success
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
 
Improving worker involvement - Improving health and safety
1 December 2006
UNISON believes that safety reps play a vital part in improving workplace health and safety, and could, given the opportunity, make further improvements and thereby contribute towards meeting the government’s targets
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
 
Disability and gender equality
1 December 2006
UNISON is committed to gender equality and gender mainstreaming in health and safety and will actively support developments on this, including shaping workplace gender equality policies. UNISON challenges discriminatory actions and campaigns for a fair deal for disabled members.
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
 
Smoke-free premises and vehicles draft regulations
24 November 2006
UNISON believes that all workers should be entitled to work in a smoke-free environment, and thus work without risk to their health from second-hand smoke
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
 
Regulatory justice
Macrory review of regulatory penalties
23 October 2006
The review examined a number of alternative penalties that could be applied after conviction or in place of prosecution. It also considered the training of judges on health and safety offences, and linking fines to profits. Whilst UNISON believes that most of its proposals may be useful, by far the greatest problem is the current lack of enforcement, and the lack of a deterrent effect from penalties once applied. The current enforcement notice regime could achieve many of the outcomes outlined for alternative penalties if only the enforcing authorities had sufficient resources. At the moment, employers can choose to run the risk of breaking health and safety law, knowing that in all likelihood they won’t get caught, and if they do, the fine will be small compared to the profits achieved.
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
 
Coroner Reform: draft bill
Improving death investigation in England and Wales
23 October 2006
UNISON believes that the proposed new law still leaves room for real or perceived bias by coroners, and is concerned at the removal of jury inquests following workplace deaths, the no-longer automatic right to an inquest following a death abroad, and the wider effects that these could have on the coroner system, and health and safety in general.
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
 
Alternative penalties for health and safety offences
10 January 2006
UNISON welcomes the opportunity to comment on this debate on penalties for health and safety offences. We believe that the current regime has little or no impact because of the falling levels of enforcement and the low levels of fines imposed by the courts where average fines remain under £10,000. In our view penalties are only of use where there is a strong enforcement regime capable of imposing them. The current low level of inspection activity, and the recent falls in both prosecutions and enforcement notices, shows that more need to be done in this area.
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
 
UNISON’s response on the smokefree elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill
19 December 2005
UNISON welcomes the commitment shown by the government to removing exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke at work. We believe that the proposals represent a major step towards helping to reduce the numbers of people made ill through work, but are disappointed that the proposed restrictions have certain exemptions for the hospitality industry.
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
 
Showing 1-10 of 17
 
< Back | More >
 
CONTACT DETAILS
• For urgent help and advice at work to go Help at Work.
• UNISON's Health and Safety Unit researches policies and issues briefings on hazards, standards and good practice.
UNISON Health and Safety Unit
1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
Email: healthandsafety@unison.co.uk
Information exchange
We currently have requests for information on various issues, please contact us if you can help or if there is a request for information that you would like to make.
Advice
UNISON health & safety reps and officers who need specialist advice can get support from their branch.
Branch secretaries can contact regional officers for help where necessary.
To find out more about training courses on health and safety issues, get in touch with your regional education officer.