Labour Research June 2006

Health & Safety Matters

USDAW demands PINs for safety reps

Shopworkers’ union USDAW passed a proposition at its annual delegate meeting last month, calling for safety reps to have the power to issue legally binding notices when employers breach health and safety laws.

Praising the Australian system of Provisional Improvement Notices (PINs), delegate Maureen Shanks said: “Experience has shown that employers are more likely to involve safety reps at an early stage rather than risk a PIN being issued when changes are implemented.”