Unions are key to health and safety

Workplaces in France with union reps are more likely to have a health and safety committee and therefore to take action on health and safety issues.

A study relating to 2010, but which has just been published, finds that 54% of all employees are covered by a health and safety committee (CHSCT in French).

However, where there is a union rep, this figure climbs to 87% — compared to 38% where there is some form of non-union representation. And among workplaces with no employee representation, only 3% have a CHSCT.

The presence of a CHSCT is key to other health and safety action.

While only around a third (35%) of employees are covered by an updated plan to tackle health and safety risks, this rises to well over half (57%) where a health and safety committee is in place.