Roving safety reps deemed a success

Preliminary results of a pilot study on the effectiveness of roving safety representatives - or Worker Safety Advisers (WSAs) - show they have been voted a success by small contractors and operatives and have raised safety awareness.

York Consulting's interim report on the trial concludes: "The evidence available from the pilot indicates that the involvement of WSAs in small non-unionised workplaces has led to improvements in their approaches to health and safety."

Eight out of ten employers claimed an increased awareness of health and safety issues as a result of WSA involvement. One-third said there had been improved communications with workers. Improvements in health and safety compliance were reported by 11% of participants.

The report says the potential market for WSA activities is "huge".

It suggests that further progress beyond the trial stage is most likely where the relationship has been entered into voluntarily by management and workers.

WSAs reported a strong wish from the workplaces for their involvement to continue beyond the end of the pilot. It concludes: "WSA activities should not be regarded as a substitute for other sources of health and safety information and support. But they could have an important complementary role."

The pilot was carried out over the winter by York on behalf of the Health & Safety Commission. It involved four sectors of the economy, including construction, where participating firms were all members of the Federation of Master Builders.

Commenting on the findings, UCATT general secretary George Brumwell said: "As expected, the pilot has been a success as far as the construction industry is concerned. Now it is up to the Construction Confederation in particular to get into the real world as far as health and safety representation is concerned. This is not the employers' exclusive terrain."

York concludes that there are a number of practical issues to be resolved if the scheme is to be progressed. These include the legal status of the safety advisers, funding, and the relationship between the WSA role and union recruiting activities.

The report adds: "Further incentives may be required in order to secure employer commitments."