LRD guides and handbook September 2018

Women's health and safety at work - a guide for union reps

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Introduction

Introduction [pages 3-5] (1,289 words)

The UK’s 15 million working women now make up around half the workforce. But the risks they face at work are often described as hidden or ...
Open access

Chapter 1

1. Why take a gender-sensitive approach to occupational safety and health? [ch 1: pages 6-7] (615 words)

Recognising diversity, including gender differences, in the workforce is vital in ensuring the health and safety of both men and women workers. As ...
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Women’s working time [ch 1: page 7] (298 words)

Safety standards based on standard male workers [ch 1: page 8] (168 words)

Health and safety law is not focused on female-dominated sectors [ch 1: pages 8-9] (344 words)

A gender-sensitive approach is also important for male workers [ch 1: page 9] (107 words)

A gender-sensitive approach in action [ch 1: page 9] (191 words)

Gender in occupational safety and health — the TUC guide [ch 1: pages 10-13] (1,055 words)

Including gender in risk assessments — EU-OHSA guide [ch 1: pages 13-15] (718 words)

Chapter 2

2. Women’s working time [ch 2: pages 16-17] (610 words)

On average, men work longer than women, with full-time men working an average of around 39 hours a week, compared with around 34 hours a week for ...
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The impact of precarious work on women’s health and safety [ch 2: page 17] (328 words)

Safe transport for women workers [ch 2: pages 18-19] (496 words)

Women and the health effects of shift work [ch 2: page 19] (280 words)

Night work and breast cancer [ch 2: pages 19-20] (746 words)

TUC Dying to Work campaign [ch 2: page 21] (183 words)

Chapter 3

3. Stress and mental health, bullying, harassment and violence [ch 3: page 22] (117 words)

Women are generally at a higher risk of psychosocial hazards including bullying, violence and harassment (including sexual harassment), and risks ...
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Stress [ch 3: pages 22-25] (1,065 words)

Sexual harassment [ch 3: page 25] (370 words)

Women and Equalities Committee inquiry [ch 3: pages 26-27] (731 words)

Unions in action [ch 3: pages 27-29] (835 words)

Bullying and harassment [ch 3: pages 29-33] (1,524 words)

Violence [ch 3: pages 33-34] (555 words)

ETUC Safe at home, Safe at work project [ch 3: pages 34-35] (334 words)

Domestic violence [ch 3: pages 35-36] (606 words)

Recent developments [ch 3: page 37] (358 words)

Chapter 4

4. Musculoskeletal disorders [ch 4: page 38] (407 words)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) explains that the term musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) covers “any injury, damage or disorder of the joints ...
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The fight for recognition that women’s work causes MSDs [ch 4: pages 38-39] (366 words)

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 [ch 4: pages 39-40] (526 words)

The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 [ch 4: page 41] (208 words)

What can reps do? [ch 4: pages 41-43] (817 words)

The risk of developing MSDs for new and expectant mothers [ch 4: page 43] (318 words)

Career development and MSDs [ch 4: page 44] (203 words)

Unions in action [ch 4: pages 44-45] (395 words)

Chapter 5

5. Women’s exposure to hazardous substances and physical hazards at work [ch 5: page 46] (51 words)

This Chapter sets out some of the issues trade unions and safety campaigners have identified in relation to the risks women workers face from ...
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Occupational health research has been male-dominated [ch 5: pages 46-48] (1,055 words)

Occupational exposure levels and women workers [ch 5: page 49] (205 words)

COSHH Regulations [ch 5: pages 49-50] (306 words)

Skin conditions [ch 5: page 50] (273 words)

Noise and vibration [ch 5: page 51] (270 words)

Chapter 6

6. Work equipment, personal protective equipment and work wear [ch 6: pages 52-53] (510 words)

As the TUC sets out in its Gender in occupational safety and health guide, work equipment, tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) have all ...
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TUC guidance on PPE and women [ch 6: pages 53-54] (718 words)

FBU conference resolution [ch 6: page 55] (236 words)

CWU and Royal Mail design and provide work wear for women [ch 6: page 55] (217 words)

Women and work equipment [ch 6: pages 56-57] (585 words)

Discriminatory dress codes and high heels [ch 6: pages 57-59] (1,091 words)

Chapter 7

7. Pregnancy, maternity, menstruation and the menopause [ch 7: page 60] (55 words)

This Chapter looks at women’s (and men’s) reproductive health and safety at work. It examines health and safety law, and employers’ failure to ...
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New and expectant mothers [ch 7: pages 60-62] (1,236 words)

Possible health and safety risks [ch 7: pages 62-63] (240 words)

Pregnancy and maternity discrimination [ch 7: page 6] (236 words)

The menopause [ch 7: pages 64-67] (1,369 words)

Menstruation [ch 7: pages 67-69] (593 words)

Toilet and other welfare facilities [ch 7: pages 69-70] (554 words)

Men’s reproductive health at work [ch 7: page 70] (129 words)

Further information

Further information [pages 71-72] (373 words)

Close the gap, Works on women’s participation in the Scottish labour market and to enable action to address the causes of women’s inequality at ...
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