Health, Safety and Environment - International Labour Organization

Manual 2:HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTFOR “GRASSROOTS” MEMBERSActivity – Workers and HS&EAIMSTo help us to identify: the responsibilities of employers and workers the role of the worker HS&E representative in handling discipline and HS&ETASK1. Read the short case study belowWorkers have recently been supplied with personal protective equipment(PPE) for use when they are working with chemicals. Management did notconsult the workers on the choice of PPE. Many of the women refuse to wearthe equipment because it was designed for men, and so does not fit properlyand is uncomfortable. A senior manager has now informed the worker HS&Erepresentative that the workers will be disciplined if they do not wear the PPE.2. In your small group, decide what you think the worker HS&E representativeand the workers should do next. You should take account of the steps forprevention and control listed above.Elect a spokesperson to report back using a chartEmployersand theirdutiesTrade unions believe that deaths, injuries and ill health are causedbecause employers fail to provide a safe and healthy working environment,and often over-rely upon personal protective equipment. In fact, PPEshould only be used as a last resort and only then to supplement othercontrol methods.The employer should: provide a working environment that is safe and without risks to healthand does not damage the environment identify hazards in the workplacecarry out workplace risk assessments before exposing workers tohazardsidentify and put into place risk management prevention and/or controlmeasures to eliminate or minimise the risk from the hazard(s) identifiedprovide workplaces that are adapted to the needs of the workerprovide safe and healthy systems of workingprovide full information to workersprovide good health and safety training programmesprovide opportunities for workers and their trade unions to be consultedabout all aspects of HS&E43 Health, Safety and EnvironmentA Series of Trade Union EducationManuals for Agricultural Workers