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<strong>The</strong> position of the <strong>STUC</strong> is that there is an urgent<br />
requirement for legislation to place legal duties on<br />
directors and this guidance is a distraction from this<br />
reality. <strong>The</strong>re is a commitment by the new Chair of the<br />
Health and Safety Commission, Judith Hackitt, to review<br />
this guidance in the future but, in the meantime, health<br />
and safety failures will continue, injuries will continue<br />
and only responsible employers will follow this guidance.<br />
ICL STOCKLINE SUPPORT GROUP<br />
<strong>The</strong> past twelve months have witnessed significant<br />
milestones for the families and survivors affected by the<br />
tragedy at the ICL/Stockline factory in Maryhill on 11 May<br />
2004. <strong>The</strong> <strong>General</strong> <strong>Council</strong> has continued to provide<br />
support for bereaved families in their quest for answers,<br />
many of which remain unanswered, despite conclusion of<br />
the court proceedings. On 28 August, two companies, ICL<br />
Plastics Limited and ICL Tech Limited, were fined<br />
£400,000 each after pleading guilty to health and safety<br />
offences.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>STUC</strong> co-ordinated media activity and supported the<br />
families during the hearing and following press<br />
conferences. <strong>The</strong>re was substantial and positive coverage,<br />
including support for the calls for a Public Inquiry.<br />
Working with the local MP and MSP, Ann McKechin and<br />
Patricia Ferguson, together with Thompsons, the <strong>STUC</strong><br />
arranged a serious of meetings with Ministers in both<br />
Governments, in addition to the Lord Advocate, to press<br />
for a Public Inquiry.<br />
Family members met Peter Hain MP, then Secretary of<br />
State for Work and Pensions; Alex Salmond MP/MSP, First<br />
Minister; and Des Browne MP, Secretary of State for<br />
Scotland, and, as a result, on 1 October 2007, it was<br />
announced that there would be a Public Inquiry into the<br />
disaster.<br />
Lord Gill, the Lord Justice Clerk, has been appointed<br />
Chair of the Inquiry and the remit is identical to the areas<br />
agreed upon by the families at the meeting with Peter<br />
Hain MP, ie:<br />
● to inquire into the circumstances leading up to the<br />
incident on 11 May 2004 at the premises occupied<br />
by the ICL group of companies, Grovepark Mills,<br />
Maryhill, Glasgow;<br />
● to consider the safety and related issues arising from<br />
such an Inquiry, including the regulation of the<br />
activities at Grovepark Mills;<br />
● to make recommendations in the light of the lessons<br />
identified from the causation and circumstances<br />
leading up to the incident; and<br />
● to report as soon as practicable.<br />
This is the first Inquiry of its kind to be held across<br />
reserved and devolved powers, and is a mark of the<br />
strength and resilience of the families of those killed and<br />
represented in the support group, facilitated by the <strong>STUC</strong>,<br />
that this has been achieved.<br />
GENERAL COUNCIL REPORT 2008<br />
At the time of writing, the venue and date for the Inquiry<br />
to commence have still to confirmed, however, a further<br />
preliminary hearing is planned for 8 April. <strong>The</strong> families<br />
have acknowledged the support they have received from<br />
the <strong>General</strong> <strong>Council</strong>, Thompsons, Ann McKechin MP and<br />
Patricia Ferguson MSP and the local politicians, and this<br />
will continue until the Inquiry has reported its findings.<br />
FAMILIES AGAINST<br />
CORPORATE KILLERS (FACK)<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>STUC</strong> facilitated a joint lobby with FACK and MSPs as<br />
part of Trade Union Week in the Parliament. <strong>The</strong> lobby<br />
was attended by 20 MSPs and the families sent a powerful<br />
message to the politicians as to why change was<br />
necessary.<br />
Currently, at the time of writing, FACK members are<br />
involved with a health and safety prosecution due to be<br />
heard in Dundee Sheriff Court in March, a Fatal Accident<br />
Inquiry to be heard in Glasgow Sheriff Court at the same<br />
time, and the ICL/Stockline Public Inquiry later this year.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>STUC</strong> feels that it is unacceptable that bereaved<br />
families have to wait three years, four in the case of those<br />
killed in Maryhill, to get answers. <strong>The</strong> <strong>General</strong> <strong>Council</strong><br />
will be giving further consideration as to how we address<br />
this issue in the context of the recently announced review<br />
of Fatal Accident Inquiries and their effectiveness.<br />
<strong>STUC</strong> HEALTH AND SAFETY FORUM<br />
<strong>The</strong> purpose of the Health and Safety Forum is to inform<br />
the <strong>General</strong> <strong>Council</strong> on health and safety matters and<br />
provide an opportunity for affiliates to highlight issues<br />
and campaigns within their own organisations.<br />
At the <strong>General</strong> <strong>Council</strong> meeting in March, it was agreed<br />
that affiliates be consulted on Health and Safety in the<br />
context of the Scottish Government’s National<br />
Conversation. At the time of writing, this consultation<br />
process has just been launched and the findings will be<br />
reported to the <strong>General</strong> <strong>Council</strong> at a future date.<br />
Issues, such as the future of health and safety in Scotland,<br />
the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives, <strong>STUC</strong><br />
involvement in the Partnership for Health and Safety in<br />
Scotland, and the Scottish Health and Safety Action Plan<br />
are all issues for discussion by the Forum. It is intended<br />
in the coming months to increase the profile of the body<br />
and increase the involvement of the Forum in setting our<br />
health and safety agenda.<br />
<strong>STUC</strong> HEALTH AND SAFETY AWARD<br />
As reported in the Congress programme, the <strong>STUC</strong> is, for<br />
the first year, presenting an award for health and safety as<br />
part of the <strong>STUC</strong> Union Rep Awards. <strong>The</strong>re are joint<br />
recipients of the inaugural award, Bob Dow and Cyril<br />
Clements, EIS members from St Margaret Mary’s<br />
Secondary School and Drumchapel High School<br />
respectively.<br />
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