Government cutbacks on workplace inspections risk increased injury and lives, says TUC (25th October 2011)

Commenting on an announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on Tuesday that the government is set to cap workplace inspections for small companies to just two a year to cut back on ‘red tape’, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said...

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Union movement to fight safety cuts (1st October 2011)

TUC Congress unanimously supported a motion moved by construction union UCATT, which condemns the Government’s cuts to the Health and Safety Executive and attacks on safety laws.

From News

TUC advises employers to adopt 'flexible attitude' in severe weather (6th December 2010)

With large parts of the UK under snow and ice last week and many still affected this week, the TUC has been urging employers to adopt a flexible attitude to staff attendance in adverse weather conditions...

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Nearly half of UK workplaces have never had a health and safety inspection (8th November 2010)

Almost half (49 per cent) of workplaces in the UK have never been visited by a health and safety inspector, the TUC has revealed...

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Workers’ top safety concerns revealed (27th October 2010)

Stress, bulling and harassment, back strains, slips, trips and falls, and overwork top the list of workers’ safety concerns, according to the TUC’s biennial survey of safety reps...

From Newsletter Stories

TUC issues guidance on workplace chemical use (1st October 2010)

The TUC is urging safety reps to ensure their employers are up-to-date on their obligations under the REACH regulations.

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Health & safety as relevant as ever, stresses TUC (9th September 2010)

The TUC is urging the Government not to give into pressure to reduce health & safety regulation and enforcement in light of a its new report that shows 20,000 people in the UK are killed prematurely by their work every year...

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Companies should come clean on safety, says TUC (9th August 2010)

Firms should be required by law to report their health and safety performance and any related enforcement action, the TUC has said...

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TUC calls for clarity on drugs testing (3rd June 2010)

The TUC has called on the Government to produce clear guidance on drug-testing to clear up the confusion around the legality of random or routine testing in jobs that are not safety critical...

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Employers challenged to promote wellbeing (2nd March 2010)

The TUC is challenging the Government and employers to actively promote good health and well-being through ‘good work’...

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Employers challenged to promote wellbeing (1st March 2010)

The TUC is challenging the Government and employers to ensure that workplaces don’t just prevent staff from becoming ill, but actively promote good health and well-being through ‘good work’.

From News

TUC issues new “fit notes” guide (19th February 2010)

The TUC today has called on employers to work closely with unions to ensure that the Government’s soon to be introduced “fit notes” work to the benefit of the thousands of workers in the UK who are made ill or injured every year as a result of their jobs...

From Newsletter Stories

TUC issues advice for getting to and from work in the snow (5th January 2010)

With snow and ice already covering much of the UK and weather reports suggesting that the snowstorms are moving south, the TUC has today (Tuesday) issued advice for workers and their employers on what to do when the weather takes a turn for the worse...

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New lone worker guidance (1st December 2009)

The TUC has published new guidance on Lone Working for safety representatives following its 2008 survey which revealed that working alone was their sixth main hazard of concern...

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Politicians should not treat 246,000 workplace injuries a year lightly, says TUC (1st December 2009)

The TUC has called for political parties not to undermine the consensus over health and safety in the run up to the general election...

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ASA ruling 'unfortunate' but HSE asbestos campaign still hits the spot, says TUC (24th September 2009)

The TUC has expressed its surprise at the Advertising Standards Authority's (ASA) decision to uphold a complaint against the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Asbestos: The Hidden Killer campaign...

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TUC calls for new health and safety legislation (16th July 2009)

The TUC has renewed its calls for the introduction of a new health and safety legal duty on directors...

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Employers urged to cool down their offices and their staff (29th June 2009)

With a heatwave warning in place this week for parts of the UK, and temperatures predicted to soar as high as 32oC, the TUC is calling on employers to relax office dress codes and cool down their overheating offices and their wilting employees...

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Employers urged to do more to protect staff from the sun (26th June 2009)

Many of the 2,000 people who die every year as a result of skin cancer will have suffered harmful exposure to the sun whilst at work, says the TUC today (Friday) as it urges employers to do more to protect their staff who have to work outside...

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Global campaign for better work conditions launched (18th May 2009)

Businesses, unions, academics and development organisations have this month come together to launch a new group aimed at improving the working conditions of workers around the globe...

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Listen up: TUC publishes noise guide (18th February 2009)

The TUC has published a new Noise at work guide for health and safety representatives...

From Newsletter Stories

Noise at work: New TUC guidance (1st February 2009)

The TUC has released a free downloadable guide on the regulations governing noise at work.

From News

Dangerous chemicals putting workers' lives at risk says TUC (12th December 2008)

Employers who risk the future health of their employees by exposing them to cancer-causing chemicals at work should be prosecuted under UK safety laws, the TUC has said as it produces a new guide for unions...

From Newsletter Stories

Chemicals campaign (1st December 2008)

Employers who risk the future health of their employees by exposing them to cancer-causing chemicals at work should be prosecuted under UK safety laws, the TUC has said as it produces a new guide for unions.

From Managing safety

Fall in fatalities and serious injuries at work proves that health and safety enforcement works, says TUC (3rd November 2008)

The TUC has welcomed the fall in fatalities and serious injuries at work over the last year, announced in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) annual health and safety statistics...

From Newsletter Stories

Stress tops list of workers' safety concerns, survey shows (3rd November 2008)

Stress or overwork, injuries and illnesses top the list of workers' safety concerns, according to the TUC's biennial survey of safety reps...

From Newsletter Stories

Launch of safety reps charter (1st October 2008)

The TUC has announced a new charter to enhance the role of safety representatives in the workplace.

From Safety first

New guidance on promoting health at work (2nd September 2008)

New guidance from the TUC aims to help safety representatives engage with employers on the issue surrounding promoting healthy lifestyles through the workplace...

From Newsletter Stories

Government report on business health and safety record falls short, says TUC (18th August 2008)

The TUC has expressed disappointment with the conclusions of Improving outcomes from health and safety, published by the Department for Business (BERR) today (Wednesday). The report considered the effects of the health and safety regulatory regime on smaller businesses...

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Drop ‘inappropriate’ footwear codes and reduce back and foot problems, says TUC (12th August 2008)

The TUC has called for employers to drop “inappropriate” requirements for workers to wear uncomfortable or dangerous footwear...

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TUC responds to BERR Vulnerable Workers Forum report (5th August 2008)

Responding to the Department for Business (BERR) Vulnerable Workers Forum report today (Tuesday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber has said...

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End inapprpriate footwear, urges TUC (1st August 2008)

The TUC has called for employers to drop 'inappropriate' requirements for workers to wear uncomfortable or dangerous fo

From Ppe

Taking the trade union route (1st August 2008)

As well as continually publishing guidance on a range of health and safety issues, the TUC offers a comprehensive training programme, explains TUC national education and training officer Liz Rees The TUC safety rep training programme is well established in TUC Education, and is one of its most popular programmes.

From Safety first

Twenty years on from world's worst offshore oil disaster, TUC welcomes new review of health and safety (9th July 2008)

Commenting on the 20th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster on Saturday 5 July, the world's worst offshore disaster in which 167 people were killed, the TUC has welcomed the Government's announcement to ask the HSE to review progress made in health and safety in the offshore oil and gas industry...

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Simple regulation key to smoking ban success, says TUC (2nd July 2008)

On the first anniversary of the introduction of smoking restrictions in workplaces and public places in England, the TUC has this week said that the ban's success is because the law change was backed by strong, simple regulation...

From Newsletter Stories

Long hours on the increase for UK workers (9th June 2008)

An extra 180,000 people across the UK are working more than 48 hours a week in 2008, according to a TUC analysis of official statistics....

From Newsletter Stories

Long hours on the increase for UK workers (1st June 2008)

An extra 180,000 people across the UK are working more than 48 hours a week in 2008, according to a TUC analysis of official statistics.

From Safety first

Unions step up campaign to keep people well at work (6th May 2008)

The TUC has called on UK employers to give better occupational health assistance to the two million employees who every year believe they have become ill as a result of their jobs...

From Newsletter Stories

TUC welcomes DWP report on HSE (24th April 2008)

Commenting on the DWP Select Committee report on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Roger McKenzie said: 'We welcome this far-reaching report on the work of the HSE...

From Newsletter Stories

Training not enough to prevent back strain (1st February 2008)

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber has commented on research published on the BMJ website, which suggests that training people how to lift heavy objects is failing to prevent back injuries...

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HIV and the workplace, guidance published (2nd January 2008)

The TUC and the National AIDS Trust (NAT) have published a new workplace leaflet on HIV and AIDS...

From Newsletter Stories

Call for tougher enforcement (1st December 2007)

Speaking in November at a conference on safety enforcement and Directors' Duties, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber called for tougher enforcement to tackle a health and safety 'crime wave', which causes at least

From Managing safety

Latest HSE figures disappointing, says TUC (5th November 2007)

Responding to the HSC's health and safety figures for 2006/2007, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The statistics are very disappointing. Thirty six million days lost to ill-health at work is unacceptably high and this number has risen in the last year...

From Newsletter Stories

TUC study reveals systematic exploitation of migrant workers (4th September 2007)

Thousands of Polish and Lithuanian workers are being exploited at work in the UK and their health and safety neglected, reveals a new report commissioned by the TUC...

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Long awaited corporate killing law welcomed (9th August 2007)

The news that the UK is to get a law on corporate killing, thanks to a last-minute compromise between the two Houses of Parliament has been welcomed by the TUC...

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TUC issues flood safety guide (8th August 2007)

Following a month of heavy rain fall, and with unpredictable weather still forecast, the TUC has issued a guide reminding employers of their legal duty to ensure the health and safety of employees at this time and to offer some practical advice...

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TUC publishes guide to help migrant workers stay safe (4th July 2007)

Problems with language and a poor understanding of the culture in British workplaces means that migrant workers may need extra help from employers and unions to stay safe at work, the TUC has said...

From Newsletter Stories

Flu pandemic: tuc advice (1st June 2007)

The TUC has published advice for employers and unions on how workplaces could best prepare for a possible outbreak of pandemic flu within the UK.

From Managing safety

Faster payouts for asbestos sufferers welcomed (4th April 2007)

Government proposals to provide faster compensation to people diagnosed with the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma, have been widely welcomed. ...

From Newsletter Stories

Prepare now to make smoke free pain free (3rd April 2007)

With just under three months to go before all public places and workplaces in England must become smoke-free, the TUC is urging employers to get their act together and introduce smoking bans into their shops, factories, offices, restaurants and bars...

From Newsletter Stories

Protect staff from asbestos (1st April 2007)

The TUC has called on employers to protect workers from asbestos exposure and has got together with the HSE to produce guidance for union safety representatives on how to keep workplaces safe from asbestos.

Asbestos is still

From Breathing safely

TUC slams HSE for lack of support for safety reps (7th March 2007)

A lack of support from the HSE and employers is undermining the work of safety reps, says the TUC...

From Newsletter Stories

Breaking the sound barrier (5th January 2007)

The RNID and the TUC are calling for managers and workers to make 'Breaking the Sound Barrier' their new year's resolution...

From Newsletter Stories

'Killer conkers' and other safety myths busted by TUC (7th November 2006)

The TUC has exploded the most common health and safety myths including schools banning conkers, safety inspectors banning ladders, acrobats being forced to wear helmets and councils banning St George's flags...

From Newsletter Stories

Employers urged to start work on smoking ban now (7th November 2006)

Employers in England are being urged by the TUC not to wait until next summer before banning smoking in their workplaces – and the union has produced a free downloadable guide to help employers start the ball rolling.

From Newsletter Stories

UK workplace inspections at new low (10th July 2006)

Safety inspections in the UK have plummeted to a new low, increasing the chances of workers being killed, made ill or injured by their jobs, according to figures recently published by the TUC.

From Newsletter Stories

TUC proposals to reform personal injury claims (10th April 2006)

The TUC has published its proposals for the future of damages for personal injury claims following a series of criticisms of the current compensation process.

From Newsletter Stories

Big firms still getting away with manslaughter, says TUC (10th April 2006)

The TUC last month welcomed the jailing of Mark Connolly, boss of the subcontracting company responsible for the deaths of four railway workers at Tebay, Cumbria in 2004 – but urged government to hold directors of big companies to account.

From Newsletter Stories

Asbestos kills: leaflets available (1st April 2006)

Asbestos fibres could be lurking in up to 1.5 million factories, offices and shops across the UK, says the TUC.

From Breathing safely

Asbestos banned but still a killer (2nd March 2006)

Asbestos may now be banned but the fatal fibres could still be lurking in up to 1.5 million shops, factories and offices across the UK, says the TUC as it launches a major new safety drive aimed at preventing more workers from being exposed to the ki

From Newsletter Stories