Calls to campaign more on the health and safety issues that impact women in the workplace and the need for more women to become health and safety reps were among two of the RCM’s motions at the TUC Women’s Conference today.
The RCM says issues that particularly impact women aren’t always top of the agenda in workplaces. Facilities and designated space to breastfeed, express milk or store milk for those returning to work, working with the menopause, violence and aggression and lone night working are some of the key health and safety concerns impacting its members.
The RCM is a union whose membership is made up almost entirely of women. Three-quarters of the NHS workforce are women and outside of the NHS millions of women working in the UK face similar issues in their workplace.
Commenting, RCM’s Director for Employment Relations, Alice Sorby, said:
“Despite are members working in maternity services, unbelievably there aren’t always facilities for them to express milk or store milk when they return to work from maternity leave. Also, working with symptoms of the menopause brings about its own challenges and require adjustments to be made to working environments these could include anything from installing a cooling system or fans to help keep the temperature cooler or amending the uniform policy to allow women to wear cooler or more comfortable clothing. Flexible working and changes to shift patterns can also support those experiencing menopausal symptoms. These are just some of the issues we campaign on for our members and why we need more health and safety reps in more workplaces, particularly in our maternity services. We want to see an RCM rep sitting on every single Trust and Health Board’s health and safety committee, so we can affect change and approve the health and safety of workplaces for all our members.”
The RCM says its health and safety representatives play an invaluable role on the ground highlighting health and safety issues that impact the working lives of midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs). Health and safety reps are trained and supported by the RCM and there is a wealth of guidance offered by the College for all RCM Activists. Reps not only support but advise other members on health and safety policy and procedures which may have an impact on their working environment. Other responsibilities may include investigating potential workplace hazards and the causes of accidents and making representations to the employers on health, safety and welfare matters.
Alice added:
“It is down to the hard work and determination of RCM health and safety reps that the risks of exposure to excessive levels of nitrous oxide caused by lack of appropriate ventilation and insufficient extraction mechanisms is now recognised, and a dedicated Health and Safety Executive webpage developed on the issue.”
RCM Activist Catherine Cargill moved the RCM’s motion which was seconded by Prospect.
If you are interested in becoming an RCM health and safety representative or choosing another Activist role there are a variety of roles with training available, read more here. Also, read more about what inspires and drives RCM Activists here.
