Health, Safety and Environment - International Labour Organization

Manual 2:HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTFOR “GRASSROOTS” MEMBERSIn most countries it is a criminal offence if an employer fails to abide byhealth, safety and environment laws and regulations.Workers,trade unionsand HS&EWorkersIt is clear from the previous section that the employer has the mainresponsibility for health safety and the environment at the workplace. Andthe employer should involve workers in decisions about health, safety andthe environment. This will include prevention and control measures andsuitable PPE where it is jointly agreed that this is necessary. In addition,workers are well placed at spotting potential causes of accidents or illhealth and alerting management to them.Obviously workers also have some obligations to fulfil. These include: observing health, safety and environmental regulations carrying out work safely in a manner that does not endanger themselvesand others reporting dangerous situations using equipment for HS&E including suitable PPE where necessaryIt is important that if we demand that employers meet their obligations,that workers observe reasonable obligations placed upon them. In manyworkplaces, refusal by workers to abide by health, safety and environmentrequirements may result in disciplinary action.Trade unionsThe main HS&E job of a trade union and its members at a local level is toensure that the employer meets their HS&E responsibilities. Some of theways to achieve this include building a strong membership, electing workerHS&E representatives and organising for health, safety and theenvironment. It is important to understand that: HS&E is no different to any other trade union issue it is not a trade union role to impose disciplinary action upon theirmembers unions should be informing, involving, advising and educatingmembers so that they can genuinely participate in HS&E employers should try to remove the hazard before resorting to personalprotective equipment (PPE) the employer should consult workers and unions in the choice ofequipment and PPE, and the PPE should be suitable for the users workers should be properly trained in the use of equipment and PPE any disciplinary procedure should be jointly agreed with the relevanttrade unions44 Health, Safety and EnvironmentA Series of Trade Union EducationManuals for Agricultural Workers