The Health Agenda at Work
A conference
Wednesday, 17th February, 2010
9:30am- 4:00pm
NUT Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD

organised by
The Institute of Employment Rights

About the conference

A tiny percentage of major injuries at work (fewer than 1 in every 15) now result in a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation. The numbers of inspectors has dwindled in recent years, while the numbers of prosecutions taken and enforcement notices issued have continued to fall dramatically. Continuous unsustainably low levels of government funding for the HSE mean worse is likely to come.

In March 2009 the Information Commissioner disclosed that 3,213 construction workers were listed on an illegal blacklisting database which in an industry synonymous with hazards at work speaks volumes about the spiralling human costs to construction workers. This is especially so in the context of the DWP commissioned report by Rita Donaghy which called for legal duties on all company directors for health and safety and a stronger involvement of trade union safety representatives.

However, despite the report the government is consulting the construction industry again about their safety record and while the statistics for 2008/09 showed a minor fall, there were still 147 fatal workplace injuries. Deregulation of entire chunks of the economy continues to come at the expense of workers’ health and safety while unrepresented and undocumented workers need a clearer framework of regulation within which to work. Further, an increasingly internationally fragmented labour market underpins the necessity to keep workers’ health and safety firmly on the agenda throughout the economic recession.

Programme

• 9.30 Registration
  1. 9.50 Welcome from the chair, Carolyn Jones
  2. 10.00 Health and safety regulation and the (continuing) case for reform?

Prof Phil James, Oxford Brookes University

1. 10.30 Occupational health and deregulation

Prof Andy Watterson, Stirling University

1. 11.00 The Donaghy Report
   Keynote speech: Rita Donaghy
   Q&A for 15 mins
2. 11.45 Supply chains: monitoring key health and safety indicators

Prof Dave Walters, Cardiff University

1. 12.15 Inspection trends in the HSE

Steve Kay, Prospect at the HSE

1. 12.45 Lunch
2. 1.45 The ongoing Health and Safety campaign for Migrant workers

Everald Brown, London Hazards Centre

1. 2.15 Shift work: The world of health risks

Susan Murray, Unite the Union

1. 2.45 The crisis in health and safety enforcement

Hope Daley, Unison

Dr David Whyte, Liverpool University,

1. 3.45 Questions and discussion
2. 4.00 Close

Who should attend

The seminar will be of great interest to trade unionists, employment lawyers, personnel specialists, academics and students and those concerned with the development of public policy.

How to book

To reserve your place, complete the online booking form below or send a cheque, made payable to IER, to Institute of Employment Rights, The People’s Centre, 50-54 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5SD.
Tel 0151 702 6925; fax 0151 702 6935; office@ier.org.uk

CPD, NPP and EPP accreditation

This seminar counts for 3 credit hours under the Law Society’s Continuing Development Scheme and the General Council of the Bar’s New Practitioners’ Programme and Established Practitioners’ Programme.

Additional Information

Details of nearby hotels are available from the office. Name changes are accepted up until the time of the event. Delegates who advise IER of their cancellation more than 15 working days in advance will receive a credit note with 10% deduction for administration.

How to get there

Nearest tube and train King’s Cross and Euston

Cost

IER subscribers and members £75.00
Trade unions £90.00
Commercial £220.00

Book your place now!