The Scottish Hazards Centre is now open providing advice, training and support to workers on workplace health and safety issues. The ultimate aim of the Centre is to reduce work-related injury, ill health and death. This will be achieved through increasing knowledge and awareness, improving practice and developing effective worker involvement. Our plans require us to secure funding of approximately £100,000 yearly. Your help in reaching that target is greatly appreciated. Click here to make a donation: http://www.scottishhazards.co.uk/content/support-us
Or read on to learn more about why such a Centre is needed, and how it operates. Is there a need for a Scottish Hazards Centre? The HSE reported that 20 workers were killed in work-related incidents in Scotland last year. It is awful enough that 20 loved ones left home never to return, but it doesn’t even begin to tell the whole story. When you also count those who die on our roads while working (or who are driving home after excessively long hours of work), who die at sea or as a result of air accidents, all those who commit work-related suicide, or members of the public killed by work-related activities - along with the huge numbers killed by occupational illnesses such as asbestos cancers - the estimated work-related death toll in Scotland is nearer 132 who die in work-related incidents, and 4150 who die from work-related illnesses. Add to that the fact that more than 60,000 people living and working in Scotland believe they are suffering from a work-related illness, and you begin to understand the extent of the need for a Scottish Hazards Centre. The Scottish Hazards Centre will work to reduce all of these “statistics” by seeking to tackle health and safety problems before they cause injury, lasting illness, or death. What does the Scottish Hazards Centre provide? The ultimate aim of the Centre is to reduce work-related injury, ill health and death through increasing knowledge and awareness, improving health and safety practice and developing effective worker involvement. We will achieve this by providing:
i. information, advice and support on occupational health and safety to individual workers, groups of workers, health and safety reps, voluntary organisations and community groups;
ii. training in occupational health and safety issues;
iii. support for worker and community involvement in research and action on work-related issues;
iv. information aimed at developing an increased awareness of occupational hazards amongst healthcare professionals; and
v. encouragement towards trade union membership and trade union occupational health and safety activity! Who are the Centre’s services be aimed at? The Centre is designed to benefit those without adequate access to occupational health and safety support and therefore, will seek to target non-unionised workers. Our firm message in all that we do is: union workplaces are safer workplaces. Particular emphasis is placed on reaching those known to be most exposed to risks, including: those in unorganised workplaces; those new to work; those living in areas of deprivation; migrant workers and refugees; those working in SMEs; those working in the third sector; home and agency workers; and those with protected characteristics within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010 (e.g. those with disabilities; those from ethnic minority communities; and both younger and older workers). As noted above, our plans require us to secure funding of approximately £100,000 per annum, in order to employ two full-time equivalent members of staff, rent premises, and cover running and development costs. If you are as convinced of the need for a Scottish Hazards Centre as we are, we would ask that you consider helping us reach our funding targets by making a personal donation or by seeking a donation from your trade union branch. Click here to make a donation: http://www.scottishhazards.co.uk/content/support-us
If you would like further information...
..please contact our Scottish Hazards Centre Chief Executive, Ian Tasker ian@scottishhazards.org, (07505040547).
