May 14, 2003—The UK’s Health and Safety Commission (HSC) recently reported on the success of the Workers Safety Advisers pilot scheme, thanking the Scottish Trades Union Congress for their work in helping promote better health and safety in the workplace. During the pilot, Worker Safety Advisers (WSA’s), often known as Roving Safety Reps, visited a number of workplaces (mostly without union recognition) and advised employees and employers on how to consult on health and safety, suggesting ways for them to work together on solutions to particular issues facing them.
The HSC released early results from the evaluation of the scheme piloted between February and November of 2002 in nine areas, including one based in Glasgow:
- Over two thirds of workers saw an increase in the level of formal and informal discussion on health and safety between workers and managers.
- Nine out of ten identified an increase in health and safety awareness.
- Employees say they are now involved in practical solutions to manage risk, and that health and safety is dealt with seriously.
- A quarter saw new structures introduced such as health and safety reps and committees, and the level of training doubled over the pilot period.
The program has led to employers revising policies and procedures, with one in five introducing regular discussions. Most of the 88 organizations that took part were small—two thirds with fewer than 25 employees in the construction, engineering, hospitality, and voluntary sectors.
While fatal injury rates in Great Britain are the lowest in the world next to Finland’s, there were still 249 people dying from work in 2002, 27 of them in Scotland. The HSC feels that “much—perhaps all—of this damage pain, suffering, and waste can be prevented.”
