Hazards news: 28 August 2004

Global: Asbestos myths resurface as ban vote looms
Frantic industry efforts to present white asbestos in a safe light are underway, as September's Rotterdam Treaty move to restrict the deadly fibre draws closer.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

South Africa: Miners sue Anglo American for silicosis
Ten South African gold miners suffering from silicosis have filed a test case in court against mining giant Anglo American plc, which if successful could lead to a rush of claims from thousands of miners.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Britain: Union calls for protection for journalists
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is urging every national newspaper editor to give freelance journalists in war zones the same protection as staffers.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Australia: Mining giant BHP makes a killing
A record profit for the world's largest mining company has come at the cost of 17 workers' lives, says a union group. BHP Billiton made a profit of $3.38 billion for the last financial year.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Britain: Railway unions call for more staff to head off attacks
Rail unions have called for better staffing levels in a bid to combat rising violence on the railways. The demand comes as the annual report of the British Transport Police (BTP) reveals reported physical attacks on railway workers have seen a sharp increase.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Global: Unions respond to push for work drug tests
Unions are being called into action as employers worldwide try to impose drug tests as an alternative to better workplace support and safety standards.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Canada: Stress is driving workers to tears
Burnout is literally driving public school and health care workers to tears, according to a union commissioned study. The Centrale des syndicats du Quebec backed study found about 40 per cent of respondents, most of whom were teachers, said they've cried on the job, mostly because they have too much work, or are too stressed out.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Britain: Tories target compensation and safety laws
The Conservatives are proposing to roll back human rights law in a move that could restrict access to compensation and lead to the loss of some workplace safety protections.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Global: Union acts to protect hot spot journalists
The global journalists' union is stepping in to defend journalists in trouble hot spots. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has introduced a programme to improve security for Palestinian journalists and media staff whose lives are threatened in the conflict in the West Bank and Gaza and elsewhere.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Britain: Airport bag weight limit imposed
Two UK airports have introduced baggage weight limits in a bid to reduce manual handling injuries to staff. People travelling through Edinburgh Airport will have to limit the size of each piece of luggage to 32kg (70 pounds) or less. A similar weight limit on individual pieces of luggage was introduced at London Heathrow in June.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Britain: Manslaughter charges follow workplace deaths
Two bosses are facing manslaughter charges after workers were killed in separate incidents in February this year.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Britain: The time is right for a new bank holiday
The autumn half-term, the national saint's days of England, Scotland and Wales, and New Year's Eve are the most popular choices for the three new bank holidays sought by TUC, according to the results of an online vote on the TUC's world of work website.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Britain: Working all hours leads to all round problems
Many shop managers and supervisors, under pressure to meet targets and boost profit margins, regularly work excessive hours that put their health, safety and family lives at risk, says shopworkers' union Usdaw.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Britain: Attacked for refusing an under-age sale
Shopworkers' union Usdaw has renewed its call for a nationally recognised proof of age scheme, as further evidence emerges that refusing under-age sales is a major trigger of attacks on workers.
Risks 171, 28 August 2004

Hazards news: 21 August 2004

Britain: Royal Mail sick leave move is a dangerous gimmick
The chance of a free car or holiday voucher just for turning in for work sounds like a great idea. But there is no such thing as a free car, says the Communication Workers' Union.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

Britain: BT to be prosecuted over engineer's death
British Telecom is to be prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over the death of CWU member Tara Whelan. The BT engineer was killed at work in May 2001.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

Britain: Ambulance union victory on meal breaks
Unions representing ambulance staff in the north-east of England are claiming victory in a row over paid meal breaks.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

Britain: Speak up now for stress controls
Your chance to have a say on Health and Safety Commission (HSC) proposals on work-related stress action has almost passed - so TUC is urging safety reps and unions to get their comments in soon.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

Britain: Open season on HSE
It appears August is open season on the Health and Safety Executive. A new HSE "putting the record straight" website is updated regularly with its responses to the latest round of media attacks.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

Britain: Bullied workers suffer "battle stress"
A leading psychologist believes bullied workers go through the same emotions and stresses as battle-scarred troops.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

Britain: Scots asbestos compensation move urged
An asbestos campaign group is pressing the Scottish parliament to speed up compensation for victims of the disease and their families. Clydeside Action on Asbestos says that while the courts have been prepared to speed up the process, too few claims are settled while victims are still alive.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

Finland: Diesel exhaust exposure raises ovarian cancer risk
The risk of ovarian cancer increases with increased exposure to diesel exhaust at work, according to a new study. Writing in the International Journal of Cancer, a research team from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health conclude individuals with the highest cumulative exposure to diesel exhaust had more than 3.5 times the risk of ovarian cancer.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

Britain: Future of safety reps conference, London, 7 October 2004
An October 2004 participatory seminar on the future of safety reps will discuss the work of trade union safety representatives. Further information online or telephone 020 7794 5999.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

Australia: Mine deaths prove the case for work deaths law
An Australian union is seeking a new industrial manslaughter law after an inquiry found a company and its bosses were responsible for a deadly 1996 mine disaster. CFMEU union president Tony Maher said: "For far too long companies and management have literally gotten away with murder."
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

Gibraltar: Shipyard workers receive asbestos disease payouts
Spanish workers employed 50 years ago in British shipyards renovating US ships on the island of Gibraltar have received payouts for asbestos disease. The claims were made to a trust fund set up by defunct US shipping companies.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

India: Bhopal victims continue compensation fight
Thousands of compensation claims relating to one of the world's biggest industrial disasters, at the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal in 1984, are being taken to India's Supreme Court.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

USA: Safety a casualty of Bush deregulation fetish
Workplace safety has been a major victim of the US government's business friendly policies. The Bush administration has always favoured a retreat from regulation and enforcement, but new reports in the Washington Post and New York Times suggest this preoccupation has been especially evident in the area of workplace health and safety.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

USA: Guilty Disney pays $6,300 for a life
Walt Disney Entertainment has been fined $6,300 (£3,455) for the death of a Florida worker dressed as Pluto who was run over and killed by a float as it entered the Magic Kingdom parade.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

USA: Too much work, too little research
Americans work the longest hours in the developed world and are dropping like flies as a result.
Risks 170, 21 August 2004

Greece: Athens protest honours dead Olympic site workers
Protesters gathered in central Athens on Tuesday 10 August to hold an open air memorial service for construction workers killed during the breakneck rush to complete venues for the Athens Olympic games. Risks 169, 14 August 2004

Britain: Tourism work ain't no holiday
The TUC is calling on the UK tourism industry to audit the working conditions of tourism staff to ensure the workers delivering your holiday dream aren't enduring a working nightmare. Risks 169, 14 August 2004

Britain: Expectant and new mums feeling the heat
Shopworkers' union Usdaw is warning that pregnant workers could be wilting in the face of Britain's steamy summer weather. Risks 169, 14 August 2004

USA: Mind-numbing jobs may up Alzheimer's risk
People who spent most of their lives in jobs that involve little brain work appear more likely to eventually develop Alzheimer's disease, according to new study. Risks 169, 14 August 2004

Britain: "Frantic life syndrome" hits women workers
Working women in the UK think new technology makes their lives even more hectic, according to a new report. As a result, a growing number of career women are suffering from what has been dubbed "frantic life syndrome." Risks 169, 14 August 2004

Britain: Equality body finds pregnant workers aren't protected
Most employers do not know about their legal duty to undertake risk assessments to protect pregnant staff. Preliminary findings of Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) research suggests only 7 per cent said risk assessments and 1 per cent said sick pay/benefit. Risks 169, 14 August 2004

Australia: ACTU condemns asbestos firm's cut price compo plan
Australia's top union body has condemned a proposal by multinational firm James Hardie as an attempt to evade its liabilities to asbestos disease victims and their families. It follows a call that Hardie Industries chief executive Peter Macdonald should face a jail sentence for his role in a scheme that disadvantaged asbestos victims. Risks 169, 14 August 2004

USA: How to get fewer accidents? Don't count them
A subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser, a company that is one of the US government's flagships for the "voluntary protection programmes (VPP)" introduced as a business-friendly alternative to official safety enforcement, has been found to have fiddled its accident reports. Risks 169, 14 August 2004

USA: Starbucks serves up coffee and pain-oh-work-a-lot
Workers at Starbucks in New York are attempting - so far without success - to organise a union. A top grievance, alongside pay and benefits, is the strain injuries caused by the awkward, repetitive movements required when making coffee. Risks 169, 14 August 2004

Australia: Unions halt Sydney tunnel work after death
The death of a 42-year-old father of two has halted work on Sydney's Cross City tunnel project. Hundreds of members of the unions AWU and CFMEU downed tools after learning of the killing and have said they won't return until they have safety assurances on the Aus$680 million (£262m) job. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Australia: Unions ban asbestos fraud firm's products
An Australian company denounced for fraud, lies and asbestos disgrace at an official inquiry is facing a union-led ban on its products. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Britain: Report confirms unions are good for you
A new report shows that union safety reps are your best defence against work-related accidents and ill-health. Report author, TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson, said: "This report confirms in simple and clear terms that safety representatives are one of the most significant factors in improving the safety culture of an organisation." Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Global: Worldwide carnage continues apace
Whether you live in a developed nation or a developing nation, workplace safety still kills workers in droves - as disasters this week in Belgium, India and Paraguay show. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Britain: BA staff to face drink and drugs tests
A new British Airways policy introducing workplace drink and drugs tests has taken effect. The policy had been the subject of a lengthy battle with unions, who argued that tests were intrusive and did not work as well as peer-to-peer support. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

USA: Strain injuries screening is bad business
Companies that screen potential employees for strain injuries risk are wasting time and money, US researchers have found. A study of more than 2,000 employees of an automobile parts manufacturer suggests that most companies that refuse to hire people who "fail" a test for carpal tunnel risk will end up hurting their profits. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

USA: Judge orders safety watchdog to name worst firms
A US federal judge has ordered the government's national health and safety watchdog to disclose for the first time the company names and the worker injury and illness rates of the American workplaces with the worst safety records. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Britain: Court bans two directors for "horrific" safety crimes
A demolition firm and two of its directors will pay out over £300,000 in fines and costs after workers were exposed to asbestos at a Birmingham factory. The directors both received bans from running a company. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Britain: "Disgraceful" local authority enforcement angers TUC
The TUC says it is disappointed that there has been a further decline in the number of health and safety inspections and prosecutions by local authorities. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Britain: Safety experts seriously concerned by rail safety cuts
Any cuts in rail safety staff could have a "serious" impact on safety, a top safety body has warned. IOSH, the body representing over 27,000 health and safety professionals, warned this week that it is very concerned at reports that Network Rail is contemplating cutting back safety staff on Britain's railways. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Britain: Death figures show need for action
The four per cent increase in the number of deaths at work announced last week has prompted renewed union calls for new safety rights for union reps and better safety enforcement. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Britain: Safety on the TUC agenda
Workplace health and safety will feature prominently at the TUC's 2004 Congress, to run from 13-16 September 2004. A safety debate on the final session of Congress will hear motions on issues ranging from safety policy, dissatisfaction with HSC's performance, health and safety in commercial aviation and theatres and bullying and harassment in the NHS. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Britain: Developer pays £100,000 following subbie's death
London-based development company Cherren III has been fined £75,000 plus costs of £25,000 at Southwark Crown Court, London, for safety offences relating to the death of heating engineer Mark Butler. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Britain: New agency will license gangmasters
Proposals for a new body to help stop exploitation of agricultural workers have been published by the government. The government say a Gangmasters Licensing Authority will operate a licensing scheme, set licensing conditions and maintain a register of licensed gangmasters. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Britain: MPs back RMT Tube fire safety stance
Rail union RMT has called on the government to step back from its threat to scrap fire safety regulations for underground railway stations introduced as a direct result of the 1987 Kings Cross fire.
Risks 168, 7 August 2004

Britain: Heatwave gets workers hot under the collar
Retail union Usdaw is braced for a deluge of calls as steamy weather forecasts suggest workers will be left simmering at work. The union says the absence of a legal maximum temperature for workplaces has got its members hot and bothered. Risks 168, 7 August 2004

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