Paul Clyndes Health and Safety Officer

Four ‘railway’ unions: AMICUS (now merged with the TGWU to form ‘unite’) ASLEF RMT TSSA Representing all grades across the railway community.

How do workers view Occupational Health Services?

OHS seen as a management tool Used as a means to dismiss workers Dismissal can exacerbate medical conditions Lack of confidence in the system can lead to workers not talking openly which can lead to medical conditions being over looked or worsened

How do the unions view Occupational Health services?

2006 biennial survey of TUC accredited health and safety reps: 1.Sickness monitoring 2.First aid 3.Health surveillance 4.Pre-employment screening 5.Disciplinary assessment 6.Access to rehabilitation services 7.Preventative services 8.Treatment

How should workers see Occupational health Services?

Should be to help members stay in the workplace or to return as soon as possible Should be an independent service A service workers can use in confidence.

What do unions want to see from Occupational health Service Providers?

1.Service must be accountable and operate independent of employers 2.Main purpose should be the recognition, evaluation and elimination at source of occupational health hazards 3.Preventative work 4.Rehabilitative work

1.Accountability and independence: The appointment of occupational health and safety staff should be the subject of joint agreement between employers and unions. TU’s should be able to examine the training, qualifications and experience of OH staff Activities of OH services should be subject to periodic review and agreement Targets for improvement of health and safety should be jointly agreed. Regular reports should be made to the TU’s on progress against those targets.

2.The recognition, evaluation and elimination at source of occupational health hazards: OH staff must have an understanding of the hazards faced by the workforce. The effects of the hazards on the workforce must be properly evaluated. Whatever the manifestation; physical hazards, ergonomic problems, or chemical, biological or psychological difficulties we should aim to eliminate it from the workplace.

3. Prevention: We want rapid identification of work related ill-health so symptoms will trigger preventive action so that acute problems do not become chronic or disabling Services that are easily and universally accessible for all workers. OH services that are not an adjunct to a disciplinary procedure and one in which workers and their representatives have some say and control

4. Rehabilitative: Unions want and are campaigning for the introduction of a legal duty on employers to have a rehabilitation policy as part of their safety policy Employers should have the objective of getting people back into the workplace Employers need to understand the business benefit of rehabilitation.

There should be a partnership between managers, OH Professionals and safety reps so we can jointly identify health problems, devise solutions which can be implemented and reviewed. Where partnerships do not exist safety reps should have the ability to raise concerns over workers health concerns through a formal system and management should have a duty to respond.