SCOTTISH WATER BRANCH

Health and Safety

Last Updated 22nd November 2006

Your Branch Health and Safety Officer is Andy Nisbet.
Andy can be contacted for help on any Health and Safety issue on

07875 873727

The Assistant Health and Safety Officer is Paul Hyles.
Paul can be contacted on

07875 873373

List of local Health & Safety Representatives

H&S Update - November 06

H&S Update - August 05

Minutes of Meeting of H&S Reps - 14th June 2005

Minutes of Meeting of H&S Reps - 12th April 2005

Consultation on Asset Transfer Procedure

Health and Safety Update - Nov 06

Andy and Paul are working on a number of initiatives at the moment including a new SW Stress Policy, a Cross Functional Working Policy, amendments to the current Working Time Policy, Fire Risk Assessments and DSE / Laptop assessments.

They are still also looking for examples of poor welfare facilities at SW depots and offices.

Please contact Andy or Paul if you have any info to pass on or want more details of the issues they are working on.

Health and Safety Update - Aug 05

Workplace Inspections

The Branch has been focussing on workplace inspections for the last few months and a number have been completed. Andy Nisbet, Paul Hyles and Stephen Horne recently completed an inspection of the new SWS office at Watermark House, Livingston. Their overall impression was that it is a good quality workplace with good air conditioning. A few points were highlighted and some have been addressed. The Balmore Road complex is next on the list. The Branch agreed to purchase 3 digital cameras to be shared by safety reps for use in inspections and investigations.

If you think your workplace is overdue for an inspection get in touch with your local H&S rep (see back page).

Risk Assessments

Members should remember that risk assessments are there for their safety and should be properly completed very time. RA's can be helpful to your H&S rep when they are investigating accidents on your behalf so please take the time to fill in the sheets.

Occupational Health

Here are a couple of points to note regarding SW's occupational health provider, OHSAS. If you are experiencing health problems that are affecting you ability to carry out your role effectively, you can refer yourself to OHSAS. Any outcome from this will be confidential and the employer will not be able to see any reports of correspondence. Where SW have referred you to OHSAS, you have the right to see their report. This will not happen automatically, you need to request this in writing. Your UNISON rep can do this for you.

Vehicle Inspections

If you have a SW vehicle it is vitally important that you carry out your daily checks, and record any faults you find. You must use the correct forms for doing this. As well as having serious consequences for Scottish Water’s “O” Licence, failure to do so has implications for the safety of you; your colleagues; other road users; and pedestrians. Scottish Water has already disciplined staff for failing to carry out these checks – don’t let the next one be you.

Minutes of the Scottish Water Branch Health and Safety Meeting held at Bullion House, Dundee on 14^th June 2005

Present:

Fred Gibson, Bill Rintoul, Barbara Carr,

Donnie MacInnes, Stephen Horne, Catherine Chilles,

David Wilkinson, Andy Nisbet, Ian McKay,

Willie Fortune, Jim Anderson (E’burgh)

David Wilkinson in the Chair

(Note: in abbreviation SW refers to Scottish Water; SWW refers to Stephan Walker; JA refers to Jim Anderson (Shetland); and JSA refers to Jim Anderson (Edinburgh))

Apologies for absence

Apologies were received from: Stephan Walker, Paul Hyles, Craig Christie and Hugh Strachan.

Matters Arising

Contact details for H&S reps have been put on the Branch website. Phone numbers to be updated

AN reported that information on SW safety committees was coming through but was still incomplete. Reps to notify Andy of who is on their committee so that he can cross check this with info provided by SW.

H&S packs are still to be distributed by SWW.

Accidents

Accident statistics were issued by AN. DW to forward info on SWS accidents to AN.

Risk Assessments

H&S reps to be made aware that they can get access to Risk Assessments if they require it for legitimate purposes. If investigating accidents etc reps can ask to view RA’s to gain a better understanding of the case.

DW to put an article in the next newsletter encouraging members to use the RA forms for their own safety.

OHSAS

AN clarified that members and their reps can get access to OHSAS reports but they must specifically ask for them. They will not automatically be issued.

DW to put an article in the newsletter stating this.

Workplace Inspections

AN gave a toolbox talk on carrying out workplace inspections. He also issued folders containing information to assist in WPIs. Folder contents to be put on website.

It was generally agreed that WPIs are very positive in terms on improving H&S awareness, removing hazards and keeping UNISON’s profile up. They can also be very helpful in recruiting and retaining members.

AOCB

SH to be accredited as a SWS H&S Rep.

A request was made to supply digital cameras for the 4 areas. This is to be taken to the next branch meeting.

Bill R to set up a one day refresher course for all H&S Reps.

Concerns were expressed about SWS sites i.e. lack of use of hard hats, site operators not being given method statements / access certs and rumours of safety auditor numbers being reduced. DW to raise at SWS H&S committee.

Date of next meeting

The next meeting will be in September 05 - date to be arranged.

Minutes of Meeting of H&S Reps - 12th April 2005

Minutes of the Scottish Water branch Health & Safety Reps Meeting held
in Unison House, West Campbell Street, Glasgow on 12th April 2005
Present:

Fred Gibson, Andy Nisbet (Branch H&S Officer), Ivor Martin, Stephan
Walker, David Wilkinson, Willie Fortune, Catherine Chilles, Paul Hyles,
Ian Mackay

(Note: in abbreviation SW refers to Scottish Water; SWW refers to
Stephan Walker; JA refers to Jim Anderson (Shetland) ; and JSA refers to
Jim Anderson (Edinburgh))

Apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Barbara Carr, Sue Becker, Jean Swan, Jim
Anderson (Shetland), Dave Marwick, Michael O'Connor

Introductions

SWW welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained how the branch
intended to increase the involvement of Safety Reps within the branch
organisation.

Role of the Safety Rep

AN ran through the role of the Safety Rep to remind those present of the
legal entitlements i.e

Trade Union Safety Reps have legal rights provided by the Safety
Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations 1977 to enable them to

* Make representations on behalf of members on any health, safety,
and welfare matter;
* Consult with HSE inspectors or other enforcing authorities;
* Require SW to set up Safety Committees;
* Inspect designated workplaces at least every 3 months;
* Investigate any potential hazards, complaints by members and the
causes of accidents, dangerous occurrences and diseases;
* receive facilities, support, and information from SW to enable
duties to be carried out;
* receive paid time off to undertake duties and training.

Additionally, Safety Reps are protected from legal responsibility in
carrying out their duties,; and from victimisation or dismissal for
carrying out their duties.

SWW advised that as with Stewards, H&S Reps are expected to deal with
their own workload but if any help or advice is required, or if anyone
feels they are not confident enough to undertake inspections, etc they
should contact AN.

AN advised that he currently receives details of all accidents which
happen in SW on a weekly basis. Additionally, as part of the accident
reporting procedure the reporting person is required to state if they
are a member of a trade union, and which one it is. AN receives details
of all accidents involving Unison members. Because the branch has not
been properly organised in the past the number of investigations carried
out in respect of members having accidents at work had been low. It is
envisaged that details of accidents, near misses, etc will be
distributed to local reps to investigate as necessary. In response to a
query raised, AN advised that deciding which accidents need to be
investigated or not is a judgement call which comes with experience.
Some are obvious but other less so. Anyone with any doubts should
contact AN or one of the more experienced Reps.

SWW to circulate contact details.

H&S Structure

There was general discussion on the Safety Committee structure within
SW. AN explained that the Central Committee met on a quarterly basis and
was made up of reps from the various steering groups. There was
confusion as to the exact structure and who was on each committee. AN to
request formal structure detailing communication links and members of
each group.

It is clear that there are not enough Unison Safety Reps to resource
every Committee but it is important that any vacancies are filled.

DW advised that in Solutions the Central Committee met quarterly and
that there were four area committees (NW/SW/NE/SE) which met quarterly.
There was no clear indication of a formal link to SW safety structure.

(Post meeting note: structures of the local committees are available on
wavelength. Path route is

http://swint01.sw.net/functions/human_resources/health_safety/Local_Safe
ty_Committ.html

Some groups have Unison representation, but information is generally out
of date. Please contact SWW if you wish to participate in your
appropriate committee)

Resources

A lot of information is available from the Unison website
http://www.unison.org.uk/safety/

PH advised www.unionreps.org.uk as a good source on info.

SWW agreed to put together information packs for all Reps.

Workplace Inspections

It had been intended to hold a Tool Box talk on workplace inspections
but given small numbers present it was agreed to carry this forward to
the next meeting.

H&S for Recruitment

There are clear examples of people being recruited into Unison through
H&S activities such as workplace inspections and accident
investigations. It is important that members know who their Safety Reps
are (this information to be distributed in forthcoming newsletters) and
where workplace inspections etc are planned it is a good idea to
advertise this so that staff are aware of what is going on.

AN clarified that where an issue is brought to a TU safety rep by a non
union member it cannot be ignored.

Training

SWW explained that it was important to identify training needs so that
Reps were properly trained to fulfil the role. Money is available in the
branch budget for training and all requests should be processed via Bill
Rintoul (Branch Education Officer). SWW advised that details of the
available courses could be found on the branch website
www.unisonscowater.free.uk and agreed to circulate by hard copy/e-mail.
E-mail address for Bill is education.officer@unisonfree.net

Future meetings

The format of meetings would be along similar lines to Branch Committee
meetings. At each Safety Reps meeting it is intended to hold a tool box
talk. Priority issues for this are workplace inspections, accident
investigations, risk assessments, stress awareness.

It was felt that it would be useful to discuss accident statistics at
each meeting, have reports from the various safety groups, and also
updates on current H&S issues which Unison are promoting.

Date of next meeting

Tuesday 14th June 2005. Venue to be confirmed but most likely to be
Dundee.

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Asset Transfer Procedure

The Branch is involved in the current consultation exercise on the new Asset Transfer Procedure proposed by Scottish Water. This procedure relates to the temporary transfer of treatment works or operational plants to contractors while carrying out work on site. Copies of the document are available and have been sent to all H&S Reps so if you want to have a say in the process please contact your local rep.

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