Our past, our present and your future
There is nothing new in the Bakers, Food & Allied Workers Union’s approach to campaigning on health and safety issues, neither do we wait around for legislation to bring about improved standards.
From the outlawing of cellar baking to the setting of maximum exposure limits to flour, from the recognition of Bakers Asthma as an industrial disease to the campaign for a maximum working temperature, we have been at the forefront of protecting workers from situations and substances that can damage their health.
We recognise the value of having a strong network of health and safety representatives if we are to give the levels of protection that our members demand and deserve and to that end we offer a diverse range of quality training to all our representatives and officials.
The quickest and most effective way of improving the health and safety standards of our industry is to work in a proactive rather that reactive manner. We are working with employees and employers to find mutual solutions to health and safety problems that are of benefit to all. The person doing the job knows the dangers and the shortcuts and by employing their knowledge along with that of our health and safety representatives we have a recipe for improvement.
It goes without saying that prevention will always be better than cure and by applying this adage we are helping to reduce the levels of industrial injuries and occupational illnesses. Identification of the hazard (the thing likely to cause harm), is the first step towards reducing the risk and looking at how we control or eradicate its effect.
Independent studies have consistently pointed to the fact that where trade union safety representatives operate the workplace is approximately 50% safer with fewer accidents and reduced occupational illness.
The BFAWU participates at all levels and across a wide spectrum of health and safety fields. We are represented on the Health and Safety Food and Drink Manufacturers Forum which brings together the Health and Safety Executive, Safety Practitioners from all fields of the food industry, Occupational health specialists and the trade unions.
We are also working in partnership with the Trades Union Congress, the General Federation of Trade Unions, the Irish Confederation of Trade Unions and the International Union of Foodworkers to promote improved safety standards and new legislative change through collective campaigning. Further information on our partners can be found on our links page.
Our members are our future and we are committed to continuing to look for ways of improving their working lives and ensuring that they remain healthy and safe.