Search

Content analysis of Audit Commission (AC) inspection reports and longitudinal case studies were conducted to study the role of the AC in local government collective bargaining in the UK. The AC is acting to promote activities in support of union bargaining agendas but is limiting itself through promoting service externalization. The AC is also not promoting engagement with unions.

The authors explore developments which have undermined the United Kingdom's 1977 occupational safety and health regulations and suggest areas for reforms.

Rights for disabled persons in the UK have been recently addressed through legislation and 'best practice' initiatives. Review of company annual reports suggest neither approach has significantly increased executive commitment to hiring and retaining disabled employees.

A recent survey of the Royal College of Nursing in regard to workforce consultation on occupational health and safety found many National health Service acute hospital trusts still lacking in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974.

A study of AT and T, Boeing, and the steel industry concludes that joint training and employee development programs have proved generally worthwhile. All of the plans feature jointly controlled employer-provided funding and an employee-oriented approach emphasizing both job-related training and personal development. Local management-union committees have led to innovations, such as AT and T's Alliance for Employee Growth and Development.

The Ford Motor Company introduced an employee development program in the UK based on its US experience. In the US it had emphasized cooperation between management and labor unions in working out employee training programs. It was a pioneering concept adopted by several other companies including Chrysler. Chrysler has created a Joint Activities Board (JAB) to monitor and fund training programs for employees. The National Training Center has been established to facilitate the JAB's activities and to work with future employment needs as a framework.

A survey of 25 organizations which have derecognized labor unions indicates that the four main motives for derecognition are an attempt to link pay to individual performance, the feeling that collective bargaining was irrelevant to the concerned employees, a low level of union membership and hope of achieving more flexibility and efficiency. The survey reveals the extent and the consequences of derecognition. The survey indicates that many employers are now offering personal contracts. The research addresses questions about employee involvement, future relevance and problems related with personal contracts.

'Necessity is the mother of invention.' That was obviously the case for the designers of the seldom seen, one wheeled garden tractor. For Fred Brown, who lives in the rolling [...]

The Safety Management Profile (SMP) system used by the UK's Kingston University has helped managers to become aware of potential safety problems, identify resources needed, and then make proper choices in correcting the problems. The SMP uses a system of audit questions and software to identify weaknesses in safety management procedures. Problems encountered in using the SMP system include unclear questions, defensive line managers, and overly-complex questions for low-risk work areas.

Hoechst's use of RoSPA's Quality Safety Audit (QSA) at its UK locations demonstrated the need for organizations to be particular in their choice of auditing systems. The QSA package was designed to monitor an organization's compliance with Health and Safety Executive's guidance. QSA should be conducted by auditors who have the requisite training. The package, with 700 questions, focuses on the need for a proper management system more than on the inspection of actual implementation and this made it relevant for Hoecsht.

An evaluation of British Waterways' use of the proprietary audit package C-CHASE helps perceive the advantages and disadvantages of such a method. The package's 12 questions cover issues such as legal requirements and resources, emergencies and special cases and people. The support of the correct kind of health and safety management systems is essential for the effectiveness of the audit. There is danger of competition between different units leading to distortion in answers. British Waterways has reached a stage where some of the questions have become irrelevant and it is planning to move to a customized S-CHASE package.

The British government's use of the argument that its extension of family leave and maternity benefits is good for business is contradicted by a survey of business executives in London and in urban areas of Scotland. The executives felt the new provisions were bad for business and unfair to other employees. Human resources managers who responded to the survey were more sympathetic.

The ultimate goal of metrology is to give manufacturers the ability to 'dominate their process' by effectively linking design intent with manufacturing capability. This process control capability is an important [...]

The belief that Total Quality Management (TQM), which seeks to optimize efficiency by minimizing disruptions, will be effective in handling safety issues is questionable. The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) report on 'The Cost of Accidents at Work' stresses the need to focus on disruptions stemming from workplace accidents. While this is TQM's specialization, there is no guarantee of its effectiveness. The financial incentive is not high enough to induce employers to invest in safety measures and even the incentive forecast by the HSE is dependent on other factors.

The Health and Safety Commission's explanatory document clarifies the vertical and horizontal relationships between laws governing occupational health and safety by identifying commonalities among the regulations. Risk assessment and providing employees with information, instruction and training are stressed by many regulations. The document suggests two methods of rationalizing the arrangement. The laws can be simplified and organized better or guidance can be provided to explain overlapping requirements.

Kodak has used the Coursafe audit system to monitor its compliance with occupational health and safety guidelines. The undedicated version of the computer-based system allows companies to customize the system in details such as specific subjects to be addressed and scoring patterns. A Kodak management team took four or five months to design Kodak's system in an effort to eliminate the third-party audit approach. The user-friendly system has had positive responses from management and employees and has encouraged Kodak to apply the system to its non-manufacturing activities.

The Searle Pharmaceuticals plant at Morpeth, England, is using the DuPont Safety Training Observation Programme, and the results show qualified improvement of safety records. For example, accidents have declined from 1.2 to 0.52 per 200,000 work hours since the program came into use. There are four packages in the program: one each for supervisors, employees, ergonomics and implementation aid. Searle found particular problems to overcome in its use of the program, such as parallel scheduling of supervisor and employee packages.

The removal of squatters from commercial premises through the UK civil courts can take up to 72 hours, once the order for possession has been awarded by the courts. A valid title to the property must be established before the court will proceed. An alternative strategy to remove squatters is by proving they have caused criminal damage to the property and therefore are liable for arrest by the police. If the squatters are behaving in such a way as to be considered abusive the police can remove them as they are contravening the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

The effect of total quality management (TQM) on occupational health and safety will vary depending on the corporation. The facilitating levels of productivity, quality and cost-competitiveness similar to those enjoyed by Japanese companies in their successful post-war period are behind the rise of TQM. In some business environments, better health and safety standards are considered central to obtaining these increased levels of efficiency and competitiveness, while in others this is not so and occupational health and safety is seen as peripheral.

Declaring my age has made me realise that it is 40 years since I first clapped eyes on an Espada. Then, Automobili Lamborghini was a 10-year old. It had built [...]

Greystoke Stages Organisers: West Cumbria Motorsport Club When: July 14 Where: Greystoke Forest, nr. Penrith Championships: ANECCC, ANCC, ANWCC, NHRC, Five of Clubs Starters: seven Stages: 55 Ian Joel and [...]

Organiser: Blackpool South Shore MC Where: Weeton Barracks When: June 9 Championships: ANWCC Novice Rally Championship; ANWCC Stage Rally Championship; evoparts.org KLMC Starters: 54 Stages: 12 Darren Doherty's pre-Donegal International [...]

Cetus Stages Organisers: Wigan and District Motor Club When: May 11 Where: Three Sisters Race Circuit, Wigan Championship: ANWCC; SD34; 6R4.com Three Sisters Rally Challenge Starters: 42 Stages: 12 In [...]

Decentralization, restructuring, and management devolution in businesses can have an impact on workplace health and safety. Although reorganizations can lead to some improvements in accident rates, one study indicates layoffs of key staff and poor implementation planning can create safety problems. The report also discusses proper safety management within delayered companies or in businesses that add contractors as part of their restructuring. A strong managerial commitment to maintaining safety is an important component of managing change during a business restructuring.

Boeing Aircraft, along with Ford, Chrysler, and GM, have established joint health and safety funds, an approach potentially useful in the UK as well. Boeing's joint safety institute with the machinists and aerospace workers union maintains a return-to-work program for injured workers, supports site safety committees and a material change coordination team, and provides safety training. These joint efforts have proven successful in the cooperative implementation of health and safety policies in unionized workplaces.

The UK Health and Safety Commission's proposals on employees' limited consultation rights have received a variety of responses from unions and employers. Although they differ regarding methods of consultation, the unions generally support the proposals and favor strengthening the role of the elected representatives. They have also offered changes regarding training, time off, and civil and criminal liabilities. Employers' organizations and the government's Deregulation Task Force are concerned about the flexibility and complexity of the proposals.

A UK Health and Safety Commission (HSC) report analyzing government departments' procedures for risk assessment in policy-making recommends consistency in handling risks and uncertainties, a uniform framework to judge tolerable risk levels, and adopting common terminology, risk-comparison criteria, and protocols for new risk assessment technologies. The usual criteria used are cost-benefit or equity-based analysis, or a combination of the two. The HSC's approach is based on determining the tolerability of particular risks tied to their potential benefits.

The 5 Star safety audit system used at the UK operations of pharmaceutical company Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) illustrates the value of a good health and safety audit system. The 5 Star schemes supplements MSD's own audits in in areas such as accident management, site rules, and material handling. The 5 Star system consists of sections on safety organization, machine guarding, fire prevention, accident investigation, and housekeeping.