Earlier this month, UNISON health and safety representatives from across the UK came together for a national seminar focused on building health and safety leaders in public services.
The event brought together reps from across the union to share experiences, learn from each other, and discuss how they can continue to improve working conditions, safety at work, and respond to the challenges facing today’s workplaces.
Learning from across the movement
Delegates heard from a wide range of speakers, including frontline activists, researchers, academics and UNISON staff, who all highlighted how evidence, experience and collective action play a crucial role in creating safer and healthier workplaces.
The message was clear: good quality work is essential for good health. Job security, supportive management, flexibility and control over work all help workers stay well and in employment. Without sufficient protection, workers who experience ill health or injury are far more likely to end up leaving employment.
This is why the work of union health and safety representatives is so vital. From identifying risks to negotiating improvements, they are critical in making sure that workplaces work for the people, and not the other way around.
Tackling new and emerging risks
The seminar highlighted how the world of work is changing, and with it, the risks faced by workers.
Delegates explored the growing impact of work-related stress and agreed that psychosocial risks, including workload pressures and poor working environments, must be treated as core health and safety issues. Creating healthy workplaces is not just about preventing harm, but about actively promoting wellbeing, dignity, and respect.
A wide range of workshops gave representatives practical tools and inspired ideas to take back to their workplaces, including:
- Working effectively with HSE inspectors
- The impact of AI on health and safety
- Engaging young members in health and safety activities
- Organising migrant workers around workplace safety
- Climate risks, air quality and the Year of Green Activity
- The Covid-19 Inquiry and lessons for the future
- Health and safety and reasonable adjustments for disabled workers.
These sessions highlighted the wide range of health and safety matters. Whether it’s new technology, climate change or workplace inequality, health and safety representatives are at the heart of driving change.
Turning ideas into action
One of the key themes throughout the day was the need to turn learning into action.
Health and safety representatives were encouraged to take back what they had learned to their branches and regions, raise issues with employers, strengthen organising, and build networks with other activists. Sharing knowledge and supporting each other is key to building a stronger union.
The role that makes a difference
Health and safety representatives are the foundation of UNISON’s work in workplaces across the country. Often the first point of contact for members, they are the people who push for real improvements and identify risks early.
As workplaces across the UK evolve and new challenges emerge, we need more health and safety representatives. Having a wide range of voices ensures that all workers, especially those most at risk, are properly represented and protected.
Becoming a health and safety representative is an opportunity to:
- Make a real difference in your workplace
- Develop new skills, knowledge and confidence
- Support your colleagues and stand up for safer working conditions
- Be part of a strong and supportive activist network.
UNISON provides training and support to help representatives succeed in the role. If you’re interested in getting involved, now is the time to step forward. Speak to your branch and find out how you can become a health and safety representative. If you are a new rep, please make use of the resources and bargaining guides available.
Together, we can continue to lead the way in making workplaces safer, healthier and fairer for all.
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