Health & Safety

Health and Safety in the workplace is vital. UNISON promotes good practice believes health and safety in the workplace is an issue for everyone. Every year, thousands of people suffer accidents and ill-health at work – most of which could be avoided.

Health & Safety Legislation

It took union campaigns to deliver the comprehensive health and safety legislation that the UK workforce enjoys today. But it takes union know-how, resources and campaigns to make workplaces as safe as possible. That’s why unions provide resources and training for trade union safety reps.

These union reps are the reason union workplaces are safer workplaces. UNISON ensures that union safety reps have the information and resources to continue and to improve that work.

UNISON Health & Safety reps

Health and safety representatives care about workers’ safety and campaign for better working conditions. They play a vital role in keeping our members healthy and safe at work. They:

talk to members (and potential members!) about health and safety concerns
investigate potential hazards
consult members about their working conditions
work with employers to improve health and safety
support members with complaints about safety
recruit new members through supporting with health and safety issues
identify members who could become more involved in health and safety work (more reps = safer workplace)

Is there training?

Yes – there is full training and ongoing support available for health and safety reps.

UNISON aims to have at least 1 health and safety representative in every workplace where we have members.

Regional Health & Safety Newsletters

The Regional Health and Safety Committee has produced its first newsletter – see below.

Health and safety make up one of the key pillars of trade unionism. The aim of this newsletter is to raise the profile of health and safety, highlight the good work undertaken by our network of safety reps across the region, and flag issues for the safety rep network.

H and S spring newsletter 2024