Our Ref: HSR/4/6
Head Office Circular: NP/109/15
08th June 2015
The Secretary
ALL BRANCHES
ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS
Dear Colleague
Promoting Maritime Health and Safety
Southampton Shipping Branch submitted the following resolution to the National Health & Safety Advisory Conference 2015:
Southampton Shipping Branch calls upon this Health and Safety Conference to promote the role of health and safety on-board vessels with RMT recognition. Whilst there is a differential in legislation from land based workers it is of concern that there is no current RMT procedure in place to centralise concerns, progress matters, maximise protection of our membership and educate our seafarers covered by MCA legislation. We call upon the support of this conference to progress and support a need for improvement in a positive manner for our maritime members.
The Council of Executives have noted and adopted the following report of their Health & Safety Sub-Committee:
That we note the contents of the resolution and support the aim of promoting Maritime Health and Safety.
In order to facilitate this we instruct the General Secretary to write to all maritime regions encouraging them to appoint representatives to the Health and Safety Advisory Committee so that their issues can be promoted.
We further note that RMT has a representative on the working group of the new code of safe working practice and that we wish to maintain direct dialogue and engagement with the MCA. Therefore we instruct the General Secretary to write to the MCA seeking regular meetings to discuss maritime Health and Safety.
Further we instruct the General Secretary to write to all branches encouraging them to promote a culture of Health and Safety and as a first step to ensure that all Health and Safety reps positions in their spheres are filled.
Finally we accept the need for a RMT campaign promoting a positive Health and Safety culture in the maritime industry and instruct the General Secretary to convene a forum including the National Secretary and representatives from branches to discuss formulating an industry wide campaign with clearly defined objectives and goals. Branches and Regional Councils to be advised.
I am acting in accordance with these instructions and will keep you informed of any further developments.
Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all relevant members.
Yours sincerely
Mick Cash
General Secretary