Who cares about your health and safety at work? Prospect does

Do you work with a computer or laptop and suffer from an aching back or neck?

Do you spend time inputting data and find your hands and arms regularly ache?

Are you pregnant and worried about the possible health effects of your working environment on you and your unborn child?

Are you concerned that your noisy working environment is damaging your hearing?

Do you work long hours and feel tired and stressed?

Do you work alone?

Do you work from home and would like advice on office standards?

Do you know who can help with these problems? Prospect can

If you have a health and safety query, we have over 1,400 workplace health and safety reps who can be your first point of call for help and advice. You should also tell your line manager. Don't bear it in silence. Your health and safety could suffer in the long term.

Your safety is our concern

Our safety representatives work on your behalf with employers by:

• carrying out inspections
• attending joint safety meetings where your issues are discussed with management
• investigating potential hazards and complaints by members
• examining the causes of accidents at the workplace
• being consulted by employers over health and safety issues.

These are all legal rights. Employers must allow Prospect safety representatives to undertake these functions. By law, union safety representatives can also represent non-members on health and safety issues.

Advice to members

Prospect produces regular publications on health and safety that are available to all members and cover specific issues such as stress, bullying, working with VDUs, working with animals, and homeworking.

Prospect legal services

Prospect members also enjoy a range of legal services that are especially relevant to health and safety issues:

• Personal injury scheme
• Noise-induced deafness
• Radiation-linked disease compensation scheme

© Prospect: January 2006