Content State

A recent study has revealed the gross negligence towards workers’ safety in the paper industry in the US that has resulted in fatalities and accidents, and this has led to the UK paper industry to conduct a similar survey on the condition of the health and safety of workers.

According to USW, the union that conducted the survey, the study has revealed that there is widespread dilution of safety and health measures in the paper industry. Not only this, there is compromise on adequate safety training of the staff along with reduction in the number of union safety committees. Apart from this, a new practice of giving financial rewards to the staff as a return for less number of accidents reported has also gained popularity.

Workers Uniting, the first global workers’ union, considers this financial rewards policy a rather cynical development, because this will lead to hiding the flaws in the safety procedures and will discourage investigations of accidents.

Tony Burke, Unite Assistant General Secretary, points out that globalisation is one of the main reasons for this trend of the employers adopting a negligent attitude towards worker safety in the paper industry. John Geenen, USW Vice-President, adds that the problems of worker safety identified in the US paper industry will be found in the UK paper industry also. As an effect of globalisation, the problems will soon be imported from the US to the UK paper industry.

The present campaign taken up by the first truly global union is one of the largest studies related to worker safety and health in the paper industry. Further, this study initiates a healthy cooperation between two different unions of two continents, and this type of partnership definitely augments well for the interests of the workers.

The NEBOSH International General Certificate is designed for Managers, supervisors and employees who require a broad knowledge and understanding of health and safety principles and practices . The certificate gives insight into international standards and management systems, to help to comply with workplace health and safety responsibilities within organisations, in all parts of the world.