Roving health and safety reps
[ch 3: page 16]In May 2020, the Scottish TUC (STUC) welcomed a joint statement by the Scottish government, Police Scotland, the HSE and local authorities outlining a role for roving health and safety reps during the pandemic. The establishment of statutory roving safety representative schemes is a long-standing trade union demand.
The statement says: “It is essential that employers also carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment. These should be developed where possible together with union health and safety representatives. For workplaces without union representation, union health and safety representatives will be available upon request to support the development of workplace risk assessments and contact details are included at the end of this statement.”
The STUC said unions in Scotland would organise, support and resource “an army of organisers and roving reps” to ensure workers are fully empowered and supported over the coming months. It also called for steps to empower union health and safety reps to support inspection work through the roving health and safety rep model.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer work places statement (https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-work-places-statement)