Health, Safety and Environment - International Labour Organization

Manual 3:HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENTFOR WORKER HS&E REPRESENTATIVESIn fact, most aspects of terms and conditions of employment need to belooked at with health, safety and the environment in mind.Trade unionorganisationfor HS&ESome of the key factors necessary for good union organisation for health,safety and the environment are listed below.Getting members’ supportWithout members’ support, worker HS&E reps can become isolated, and itis difficult to get things done. Employers are more likely to act if they knowthat workers are well informed, active and fully involved in union activities.Worker HS&E representativesA worker HS&E representative needs to have a clear role in dealing withhealth, safety and the environment. She or he may be – an existingrepresentative, who adds health and safety to their duties; or arepresentative specifically elected to deal with health, safety andenvironment issues; or a worker representative on a joint HS&E committee(as described above). In some countries, territorial or roving safetyrepresentatives have been appointed by unions to cover members in smallworkplaces (See Appendix 1).Support from the UnionSenior union representatives and full time union officials are vital for thesupport that they can offer local worker HS&E representatives. All partiesmust keep each other fully informed. It is essential that the employerknows that the local worker HS&E representative has the full support of heror his union.Liaison between worker HS&E representativesWhere there is more than one worker HS&E representative in a workplace,it is essential that they liaise closely. Experience can be shared, short andlong term strategies developed, and they can support each other whendealing with management.Getting management to actSome employers are well organised for health and safety, but many are not.A strong union organisation can ensure that the employer will act onhealth, safety and the environment even if they are reluctant. Specialsafety procedures; safety policies, grievance procedures; CBA’s with HS&Eclauses; and joint safety committees all help to get things done.Union HS&E servicesIn order to ensure that HS&E is a priority, many IUF affiliated unions: provide HS&E information to members provide special union HS&E committees at local, regional and nationallevel. For example, in Tanzania, the constitution of the TanzaniaPlantation and Agricultural Workers Union allows for the formation ofHS&E committees at all field/workplace branches70 Health, Safety and EnvironmentA Series of Trade Union EducationManuals for Agricultural Workers