Safety and health problems are often noticed by and/or brought to the attention of union stewards.

To address these, you can:

Educate

  • Know the contract’s safety and health language
  • Post health and safety information on workplace bulletin boards and in union newsletters
  • Research health and safety information on the internet and ask your union representative if they have consulted with the UFCW’s Occupational Safety & Health Dept.
  • Educate your co-workers about:
    • Resources for resolving safety and health problems, such as other stewards and the safety & health committee.
    • Their rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (the federal law covering workplace safety)and the union contract
    •  The importance of reporting all injuries and illnesses
    • The importance of reporting early signs and symptoms of illnesses such as sore hands, wrists and shoulders
    • The location of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and other health and safety information
    • The negative effects of safety programs that blame workers when they get hurt and discourage reporting of injuries and illnesses
  • Educate management, local union leaders, and staff about:
    • Safety and health hazards in the workplace
    • Ways to improve conditions and re-design job

Identify Hazards

  • Conduct walk-arounds to identify hazards
  • Survey co-workers
  • Report hazards to management
  • Monitor management’s response to correcting hazards
  • Request and analyze OSHA 300 Logs and other safety and health-related records
  • Conduct union investigations of safety and health incidents

Take Action

  • Attend union meetings and educational seminars
  • File OSHA complaints (in coordination with your local union)
  • Accompany OSHA inspectors who visit the workplace
  • Develop ideas for future health and safety contract language
  • If requested, accompany co-workers to the nurse’s office
  • Help organize job actions around safety and health issues (i.e., wearing stickers, signing petitions)
  • Communicate with and/or serve on joint labor-management safety and health committees
  • Help organize and attend union-only safety and health committees