TUC/CWU National Health & Safety Inspection Day – Wednesday of European Health & Safety Week – 26 Oct 16 – Royal Mail Support
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
Royal Mail have endorsed the TUC/CWU National Health and Safety Inspection Day on Wednesday 26 October 2016.
The TUC National Inspection Day falls on the Wednesday of each European Health and Safety Week.
This year, CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department is once again encouraging CWU Safety Reps to specifically consider Health and Safety Inspection at higher risk workplaces or areas or functions or specific jobs and consider whether the workplace is healthy and safe for all.
With the working population ageing, this year’s European Health and Safety Week focus of health workplaces for all ages couldn’t be more apt.
The TUC/CWU National Inspection Day is also an ideal time to discuss key health and safety these issues with members.
Safety rep workplace health and safety inspections don’t just have to focus on the tangible hard hazards such as slip and trip risks, fire risks, and work stations. They can also focus on intangible hazards and solutions that don’t have a physical presence, including shift work, job rotation, specific tasks, working environment and flexible working.
So this European Health and Safety Week and National Inspection Day, CWU is encouraging branches and their safety reps to ask members about their experiences at work and how these might be improved.
Carry out an inspection this national inspection day
The TUC designated National Inspection Day aims to encourage safety reps to conduct a workplace health and safety inspection. Remember, workplaces with active safety reps are twice as safe as those without.
Carrying out an inspection will enable safety reps to:
Raise awareness of the issues;
Identify issues that need to be raised with the employer;
Raise the profile of their role;
Meet members, hear their concerns, and ask if they would like to get more involved, maybe by becoming a safety rep; and
Meet non-members, as issues they raise may present opportunities for success or recruitment.
Offer members the opportunity to speak to a Union Safety Rep in private for a confidential chat.
The TUC’s Workplace Safety Rep Inspection guide is attached and will be of assistance, as will CWU Guides:
Health and Safety At Work – The Law At A Glance
Health and Safety Legal Obligations on Employers to Work with Union Health and Safety Reps: The Law At a Glance: Safety Reps & Branch Guide:
The guides not only explain the issues in a quick reference summary format but are also useful tools for safety reps.
Health and Safety – Why Inspect ?
CWU believes health and safety in the workplace is an issue for everyone. Every year, thousands of people suffer accidents and ill-health at work – most of which could be avoided. Look at the statistics below. Inspections are a way of identifying dangers, hazards and risks in order to control or eliminate them and so avoid accidents and injuries.
Key Annual Figures 2014/15
142 workers killed at work
76 000 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR
152 000 over-7-day absence injuries occurred (LFS)
2 million working people were suffering from a work-related illness (2011/12)
3 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury (2011/12)
Workplace injuries and ill health (excluding cancer) cost society an estimated £14.3 billion in 2013/14 (based on 2013 prices).
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
Email Attachments – Click to download
LTB 613/16 – TUC/CWU National Health & Safety Inspection Day – Wednesday of European Health & Safety Week – 26 Oct 16 – Royal Mail Support
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
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