Health & safety
Union workplaces are safer workplaces
The evidence shows when workers who are organized with elected and trained health and safety representatives to advocate for healthy and safe workplace conditions have better outcomes and less injuries. It’s called the union safety effect.
The research found Union workplaces encourage occupational injury reporting and reduce risks through training and hazard identification and control strategies. For more information on ‘the union safety effect’ see the article here.
International Workers Memorial Day 28 April every year
Every year RMTU members commemorate Workers Memorial Day, where we remember those who’ve been killed or made ill from work, and vow to fight for better health and safety for workers now and in the future.
Worker (health and safety) Participation Agreements
The RMTU has agreements called ‘Worker Participation Agreements’ with the rail employers and some of the ports and stevedoring companies. These contractual agreements include the requirement to have Health and Safety Rep elections, annual training for Health and Safety Reps, provision of paid time for Health and safety Reps to carry out functions such as risk assessments or attend health and safety committee Meetings. The KiwiRail Worker Participation Agreement can be found here
RMTU Red Card
The RMTU Red card is a prompt card to remind members of their right and responsibility to ‘Say No’ to a task which has a risk or serious harm.
If you genuinely believe you or another worker is at imminent and immediate risk of harm, you must call a stop, let your manager know, then notify the union.
The steps are
- If it doesn’t feel right, stop
- Ask, what is the hazard or risk that could hurt you or someone else?
- If you continue, could you or someone else be injured?
- If the answer is yes, stop the job/task,
- Tell your manager, let your Union Delegate/Organiser know.
Red card example- Working at heights without fall protection.
Whangarei Union Branch Secretary/ Delegate /Health and Safety Rep and KiwiRail Signals Technician Matt Bennie wears a few hats. He can now add Winner of the prestigious ‘Representative’ Award to the list. Matt was awarded the Safeguard ‘Representative’ Award at the NZ Safeguard Awards in 2024.
Matt was nominated for the award jointly by the RMTU and KiwiRail for issuing a red card on behalf of a night shift upgrade crew.
What happened?
In August 2023 KiwiRail began work to upgrade the North Auckland Line between Whangarei and Otiria. The works on this section involved rail and sleeper replacement, replacement of ballast, and formation work. The area of track the staff were working on was on was a high embankment in Whangarei township. The embankment was steep and high (approx. 5 metres), with a concrete footpath at the bottom. The risk of falling from height from working on top of the embankment was identified on the risk assessment done prior to the work beginning. Fall restraint harnesses and training were supposed to be provided.
However, when work began on the embankment harnesses and training were not provided. Staff on the night shift raised their concern with Mat, who called a stop (red card) and informed the Project Manager.
Initially the Project Manager didn’t agree, saying it wasn’t a fall from heights issue. They said,” this is a slope rather than a vertical fall”. They asked Matt to withdraw the red card. Instead, Mat called a meeting of KiwiRail, the project team and the Union. It was agreed the red card was warranted because the risk of falling from height was not being managed in accordance with the risk assessment.
Work resumed with the condition that staff working on the embankment would have harnesses and be trained in how to use them. This was achieved.
On winning the Award, Matt says it was pretty crazy hearing his name called as the winner for the Representative category, which is the only category open to frontline workers not acting as health and safety professionals in Aotearoa.
He said, “Ever since I started in signals when I was 16, all I’ve wanted to do is be the best Signal tech I can be. So, this nomination wasn’t something I’ve ever strived or asked for, it was just another day at work where I was thinking of my mates and their whanau.
“You don’t have to be a health and safety rep or union delegate to look out for your mates, but it is important for people in those roles to keep leadership teams honest in regards to KiwiRail’s values.
“We have a lot of good safety systems in KiwiRail, and some systems and procedures that still need work to ensure all staff are safe in their workplace. But safety systems – and safety awards like this one – hold no meaning unless we all share a mature approach to safety and feel comfortable to challenge, or be challenged, about unsafe acts.”
Post incident- Union representation
If there’s been an incident at the workplace that’s being investigated, the H&S rep or Union Delegate should tell the PCBU that they wish to be advised when any interviews are occurring with workers.
In cases where a person is being interviewed ‘under caution’ it is very important that you contact your Union Organiser.
Health and Safety Training
The RMTU course is for Delegates, H&S Reps and members interested in improving health and safety. This workshop aims to build the skills, knowledge and understanding of RMTU members in the rail and ports sector to ensure they can contribute to building good health and safety systems in the workplace. The workshop examines the key elements of the Health and Safety legislation for our industries and associated Regulations, to ensure members can communicate confidently with employers and workers about the risks faced, and the proper and effective operation of safety practices in the workplace.
A key feature of the workshop is that participants will apply a risk management approach to real port and rail incidents (case studies).
RMTU Health and Safety Organiser
The RMTU employs a dedicated health and safety organizer- Karen Fletcher based in the Wellington office.
If you’d like some advice on a health and safety issue give either your local Union Organizer or Karen a call or email. kfletcher@rmtunion.org.nz
Other Areas of Mahi
