National Hazards Conference 30 August – 1 September 2024 – Theme ‘The Climate Crisis and Workers Health and Safety – A Deadly Combination:’

National Hazards Conference 30 August – 1 September 2024 – Theme ‘The Climate Crisis and Workers Health and Safety – A Deadly Combination:’

For the special attention of all CWU Safety Reps, this is to inform you that the 35^th National Hazards Campaign’s annual, National Hazards Conference will be held this year at the Keele University venue and additionally there will be an online option with a streamed Conference with online workshops and fringe meetings.

The Hazards Conference has always been one of the biggest conferences for trade union safety reps and activists. It consists of a mixture of plenary sessions, meetings and a comprehensive workshop programme. Delegates have an opportunity to exchange experience and information with and learn from safety reps from other unions, sectors and jobs across the UK.

The feedback Hazards has received over the last three years has been encouraging and to this end the organisation has decided to continue the Hazards Conference as a ‘hybrid’ event this year, where delegates can attend in person or participate online. Hazards want to encourage as many attendees and participants to join in and have an equal opportunity to attend and participate in the conference and therefore, Hazards are providing an opportunity for everyone to attend, either in person or online.

The Hazards Conference needs to recruit as many delegates to attend as possible to maintain the viability of the event as Hazards have to commit to a substantial outlay to deliver the Conference, as a non-profit making organisation. The CWU/HQ Health, Safety & Environment Department encourages CWU Safety Reps to attend the Conference. In support of the Hazards Campaign and Conference which the CWU is a part sponsor of, please can Regions and Branches support the Conference and can CWU Safety Reps give consideration to attending.

This year’s Hazards conference will include sessions on: –

The Health and Safety at Work Act at 50 years old – What is the future?
Climate and workers’ health and safety – the challenges of extreme weather events and the impact of work activity on the climate;
Making the case for mentally healthy work – workers are being exposed to increasing workloads, health impacting work related stress, violence and bullying and

the need to resist, not be more resilient;

Bad work injuries and deaths – collective pressure and ‘safety reps save lives’ – but the majority of workers are not in trade union organised workplaces, how are

we fighting for these workers?

Note: Again, this year, Hazards will be awarding certificates to great health and safety campaigns and calling out the bad employers on health and safety

Full details of the Conference plenary sessions, workshops, fringe meetings, subjects etc., are contained in the attached booking form and the outline agenda is as follows:

Agenda:

Conference timings and registration

Friday 30 August

1.00-19.30 Delegate registration

17.00 – 19.30 Evening meal

20.00 – 21.00 Opening Plenary Session – HASW Act 74 at 50 years old – what’s the future?

21.00 – 22.00 Networking in Sectors

Saturday 31 August

7.30 – 9.00 – Registration for later arrivals/non-residential delegates

7.00 – 8.45 Breakfast

9.00-10.30 – First Meeting: Westminster Theatre: Climate and workers’ health and safety – the

challenges of extreme weather events and the impact of work activity on the climate

10.30-11.00 Break

11.00 – 12.30 – Workshop 1 – in person and online – see options

12.30 – 14.00 – lunch

14.00 – 15.30 – Second Meeting: Westminster Theatre: Making the case for mentally healthy work –

workers being exposed to increasing workloads, health impacting work, Work related stress, violence and bullying and the need to resist and not just be more resilient.

15.30 – 16.00 – Break

16.00 – 17.30 – Workshop 2 – in person and online – see options

17.45 – 18.45 – Fringe meetings – in person and online – see options

19.00 – 20.30 Dinner

21.00 – 22.00 Quiz

22.00 – Networking

Sunday 1 September

7.30-9.15 – Breakfast (Clear rooms – bring cases to secure room in registration area)

10.00-12.00 – Closing plenary: Bad work injures and kills; Collective pressure and safety reps save

lives; How can TU Safety Reps fight for the majority of workers are not

in trade unionised workplaces? how can we fight for these workers?

12.30-13.30 – Packed Lunch – eat on site or take away and depart

Note: All plenary sessions are in-person or online

Some of the Subject Matter Covered in the Workshops:

Safety Reps Functions and Workplace Inspections
Mental Health awareness
The role of Safety Reps in dealing with Work Stress and Mental Health issues
Organising, campaigning and resources for Safety Reps
Tackling Work-related Violence
Working in extreme weather conditions and controlling the risks
What’s lurking beneath the surface in Workplace Buildings (RAAC, Asbestos etc) What do Safety Reps need to do
The Climate Emergency and Employers Climate Policies – what do Safety Reps need to do
Engaging and supporting young workers

Note: Some sessions are in-person, some hybrid and some on-line – see registration form for details.

Booking Form for the 2024 Hazards Conference:

Copy Attached
The link to download a copy of the Booking Form is:

Booking-Form-The-35th-National-Hazards-Conference-2024.pdf (gmhazards.org.uk)

Alternatively people can apply online using this ink:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/845819989357?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sponsorship Form:

If Reps, Branches, Regions would like to sponsor this year’s event see attached sponsorship form. Every small donation helps this great safety campaigning, non-profit making organisation.

The CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department will again be sponsoring the Hazards Conference.

For More Information or any questions about the Conference:

If you have a question, concerns, or require more information or clarification, please email or call Janet Newsham on behalf of the Hazards 2024 Conference organising committee:-

Contact: Janet Newsham

Email: janet@gmhazards.org.uk or hazconf@gmhazards.org.uk

Telephone: 07734317158

Post: Hazards Campaign

Windrush Millennium Centre

70 Alexandra Road

Manchester
Greater Manchester M16 7WD

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