Resolutions

RMT bus members lead the way on raising H&S items that have relevance for all RMT members

Resolution passed at 2022 RMT National Bus Workers’ Industrial Organising Conference:

Whole body vibration Conference passed a resolution calling for a Campaign for Whole Body Vibration (WBV) as an industrial disease. The resolution was subsequently adopted by the NEC when they recognised that WBV is a health and safety issue that may affect many or our members.

In relation to this issue the following HSE training “HSE Musculoskeletal disorders and whole-body vibration from driving: Manage the risk to your workforce” on 25 September 2023 maybe of use.

This free online webinar is aimed at managers –but it might be interesting for you to learn about how employers should be managing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and whole-body vibration from driving. Even if you are registered – but can’t make the training - you will be sent a recording of the webinar.

For more information and to register click here: https://bit.ly/44UjtYj

In relation to Hand Arm Vibration (HAVS), the ORR (Office of rail and road regulator) wrote in their annual report which was released recently that “Network Rail have been responsible for reporting most of the industry’s new HAVS diagnoses. Network Rail were also responsible for reporting all worsening HAVS diagnoses to ORR under RIDDOR. Reports of worsening HAVS are of particular concern as they are more likely to arise from vibration exposures in current jobs, rather than new diagnoses of pre-existing symptoms arising from exposures with previous employers”.

Resolutions passed at 2023 RMT National Bus Workers Industrial Organising Conference:

Toilet Dignity

A resolution “Toilet Dignity – Bus Workers”, highlights the problems for bus workers (as shown during the pandemic when usual “facilities” used by

Covid Enquiry

You are probably aware that the Covid enquiry is now underway.

Of particular note was the contribution from the BMA (British Medical Association) Chair Phil Banfield who said at the enquiry on 18th July that Pandemic preparedness warnings were ignored for years and that years of bus drivers in shopping centers, bars and cafes etc.. were closed). The situation is not much better for many other RMT members. Indeed, things are so bad that the ORR in their recently published annual report stated that:

“It is unacceptable that the industry fails to provide adequate toilet facilities for staff and indeed this is a legal requirement. There is an opportunity for operators to provide shared access to their own facilities and go some way to meeting the human need and dignity requirements of the workforce”.

In connection with this issue - the ITF (International Transport Federation) material is particularly useful as a resource to survey/investigate your workplace in relation to toilet provision: https://bit.ly/44U0ay9

Working in Extreme Temperatures

This resolution called upon the RMT NEC to support and campaign for a maximum bus cab working temperature. The resolution explained that due to the climate crisis and faulty bus cab air conditioning systems during the summer months UK bus drivers are compelled to drive buses where the in-cab temperature exceeds 40C.

Global temperatures are on the rise, In the UK, the Met Office announced that June 2023 was “the hottest on record for the UK” and more recently in southern Europe, the US and China they have recorded record high temperatures.

Employers must plan for the fact that we will more frequently experience high temperatures - and put in place measures to manage the risk of this to the health and safety of their staff who are working in these temperatures.

The TUC have issued their 8 steps employers can take to keep work cool at https://bit.ly/3Yrbn76 which has a useful interactive guide for reps who want to learn about the actions they can take to guard against extreme temperatures in the workplace and contribute to the fight against climate change.

under-investment and understaffing meant the NHS could not cope. A perfect storm of failings including a failure to appropriately resource and staff the NHS, the dismantling of public health services and the failure to implement pre-pandemic emergency response planning, meant that doctors were overwhelmed and put at risk when COVID-19 arrived in the UK.