DON’T WALK PAST IT…REPORT IT!

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2013 :: RMTnews 10 The journey for creating a new system to deal with health and safety issues at East Midlands began at a local St Pancras health and safety meeting in late 2010. As health and safety reps, we had concerns about the effectiveness of the processes in place. It was felt that it was taking too long to identify and communicate local workplace safety matters between workers, union safety reps and managers. This often meant issues were regularly carried over to at least one subsequent inspection prior to being resolved. We also wanted to involve front line employees more and develop a new and inclusive way of managing and communicating workplace risk. We wanted to develop a simple process that would encourage workers to report any non-urgent safety concerns. The principle of a highly visible board in a dedicated area, displaying the issues raised, ownership of action and status updates was seen as a way to achieve this. The local management team fully supported the initiative and our proposals. We badged the concept ‘Report it, don’t walk past it’. As local RMT health and safety reps myself with John Gilchrist of TSSA, we designed the layout of the whiteboard and the format of the reporting cards. We included the relevant company and union logo graphics on the board to ensure the collaborative nature of the initiative was immediately visual. HOW THE INITIATIVE WORKS: Step 1: A reporting card can be completed confidentially and posted in a box provided. Step 2: A health and safety rep empties the box each week and details of the reported concerns are input into the ‘What you said’ section on the board Step 3: The rep then liaises with local manager about issues raised and the ‘What we did’ section is then completed in line with the response. Step 4:Updates are provided on a weekly basis, and the last section completed accordingly. Step 5: Where possible issues remain on board until closed out in order for it to be reviewed by all staff. With this initiative, as trade union reps from different functions, we were able to work together to gain the local backing and support from our direct managers. Across the business all functions have been involved in the development and/or use of the concept. SO HAS IT MADE A DIFFERENCE? Overall the project has been considered a huge success by the company and reps alike. We have all seen a decrease in items on the quarterly inspections, more timely management of the health and safety concerns and an increased awareness from workers on what issues matter to them. It is also a great example of what can be achieved by working collaboratively with the company and other trade unions towards one goal. Key achievements to date have included: • A Pro-active approach to safety • Improved safety communications between reps, managers and workers. • Increased involvement and interaction from employees on reporting via this system • Improved staff awareness of safety management • More structured health and safety management of local inspections, with the introduction of required audit of the safety boards • A wider business understanding of the health and safety concerns that are important to their employees Have we reached the end of the journey yet? Possibly not, but it is certainly a step in the right direction and a rewarding process to be involved in. For more information contact: Paula.Wilcox@eastmidlandstrains.co.uk DON’T WALK PAST IT… REPORT IT! RMT member Paula Wilcox explains how the union pioneered a system for reporting health and safety issues within East Midlands Trains