Unions at USDAW's Annual Conference in Blackpool this year have called for Britain's union safety representatives to be given more power, by introducing a similar system to the Australian-style Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN) system to the UK.
The Australian PIN gives safety representatives the power to issue legally-binding notices where illegal dangerous work is breaching health and safety laws.
Maureen Shanks from USDAW's Southern division said:
"Australian-style PINs are necessary because of concerns that the government could be undermining the health and safety system to reduce so-called burdens on business.
"Experience in Australia has shown that employers are more likely to involve safety reps at an early stage rather than risk a PIN being issued when changes are implemented.
"In my experience even senior managers in stores have very little knowledge of health and safety laws and yet the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) appear to be moving toward self-regulation. How can you self-regulate when you do not know the rules?"
There will, of course, be many viewpoints as to the introduction of a PIN system within the UK. However, these viewpoints and any other opinions and views regarding a safer workplace can be registered in the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) consultation document, "Improving worker involvement - Improving health and safety".
The consultation runs from 24 April 2006 until 8 September 2006 and can be accessed from the HSE Webpage by clicking the following:
Improving worker involvement - Improving health and safety
Article by Alexandra Johnston
