Union H&S Reps - Health and Safety Executive Reporting Form

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LTB 555/14 Union Health and Safety Representatives - Health and Safety Executive Reporting Form


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No. 555/14

Ref EX10/14

Date: 2 September 2014



To: All Branches



Dear Colleagues

Union Health and Safety Representatives - Health and Safety Executive Reporting Form


Following a dialogue between the TUC and the HSE, the HSE has now produced a new form to help union health and safety representatives notify them of concerns. This matter has been discussed at regular TUC Union Health & Safety Specialists meetings, where the CWU is represented alongside other TUC affiliated unions.


Trade Union health and safety representatives should always seek to resolve issues with their employer in line with agreed procedures or workplace practices. In some cases that may not be possible. Where the safety representative believes there has been a breach in the law which the employer fails to resolve, the health and safety representative should raise the issue with a senior representative or union official. However, if a serious problem remains, and after discussion with their union, a health and safety representative may consider contacting the HSE.

In addition, because of their training and experience, union health and safety representatives may see incidents where there is a serious breach of health and safety law outside their place of work. Where that workplace is likely to be unionised the safety representative should seek to notify the appropriate union, but if there is a risk of significant harm, the safety representative should contact the HSE. Safety representatives can also contact the HSE if they have concerns over any sector or industry-wide issues which they believe the HSE should be aware of, but again safety representatives should contact a senior representative or union official first.

In all cases where there is a serious risk to life or limb which cannot be prevented by notifying your employer, safety representatives should contact their union and the HSE immediately. Union appointed health and safety representative may contact the HSE using the following form.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/involvement/hsrepresentatives.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Information for union health and safety representatives on the new form which the HSE has produced to help representatives notify them of concerns is now on the TUC website. The TUC are encouraging affiliated unions to ensure that their representatives are aware of it. The form can only be used by union health and safety representatives. At present the HSE phone systems do not have the capacity to allow them to set up a dedicated number for representatives but this is something that it is hoped will become available in the future.

You will find more details on the TUC website :

http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/ ... /reporting" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yours sincerely

Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer