RMT Health and Safety Conference 2026

To: The Secretary

All branches and Regional Councils

 

Dear Colleague,

 

2026 NATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY ADVISORY CONFERENCE AND TRAINING

 

Conference Training: Afternoon of Wednesday 11^th February 2026

Conference: Thursday 12^th February 2026

 

Hilton, Liverpool City Centre, 3 Thomas Steers Way, Liverpool L1 8LW

 

 

I write further to my circular NP/162/25, dated10^th October, with more information about next year’s Health and Safety Advisory Conference:

 

The keynote debate will focus on “Making travel safer” and will focus on how moving beyond simple 'human error' explanations can help us better understand safety incidents and enable the design of more effective interventions.

 

The discussion will be chaired by Shelly Asquith TUC health, safety & wellbeing policy lead, and speakers are: Paul Leach RSSB Head of Human Factors, Professor Robert West from University College London and Shaun Helman, Head of Transport Psychology, Transport Research Laboratory. 

 

Additional speakers at conference include Richard Hines, ORR Chief Inspector, also a Thompsons solicitors giving an update on health and safety law – and Kim Johnson MP has been invited to speak at the conference. 

 

The conference will also be an opportunity to hear from RMT senior leaders. 

 

Both the conference and the conference training workshop will have a focus on RMT Action Against Assaults campaign. 

 

The topics for the training workshops are as follows:

Fatigue management, Introduction to human factors, Introduction to RAIB (rail accident investigation branch), Stopping violence at work, the role of the safety reps on workplace stress and Working in extreme heat – all workshops will be delivered by experts in their field. When delegates receive the registration letter – they will also receive a link to book their preferred training workshops.  

 

As I explained in my previous circular:

Conference/conference training workshops dates and times

The 2026 Health and Safety Advisory Conference will take place on 11^th and 12^thFebruary 2026. 

Commencing on 11^th February with lunch upon arrival at 13.00, workshop training from 14.00 - 17.00 followed by a drinks reception in the early evening. The Conference takes place on Thursday 12^th February, between 09.30 and 16.00. 

 

How to nominate safety reps

Nominations can be accepted via email from the branch or region email address and sent to healthandsafety@rmt.org.uk. Please send in names of delegates along with their membership number. This should be received by no later than 14^th January 2026. 

 

Branches and regional councils need to confirm with the safety reps they nominate as delegates that they are up to date with their subscriptions.  A £50 per delegate payment can be made to branches upon application, up to a maximum of seven (although there is no limit on the number of delegates any one branch may nominate for this conference).

 

Branches are advised that it is appropriate that, where necessary, delegates’ expenses be funded from the branch management fund or by the regional council as appropriate. In line with AGM item No. 64, 2005, delegates should attempt to secure paid release from their employer. In cases where it has not been possible to secure paid release branches should contact RMT’s health and safety section at healthandsafety@rmt.org.uk. 

 

Accommodation

The Hilton Liverpool City Centre can accommodate a maximum of 80 delegates. Upon registration delegates will be sent a link so that they book their accommodation. The delegate B&B discount rate is £149 (delegates should be aware that there is a city visitors tax of £2 per night).  The 80 rooms available at this discount rate will go out on general release if they are not booked by delegates. This will happen in two separate tranches: 40 bedrooms will be released to eight weeks before conference - on 17^thDecember 2025; the remaining 40 rooms will be released four weeks prior to conference - on 14^th January 2026, if not booked by delegates.  

 

Delegates are not obliged to stay at the Hilton Liverpool City Centre for the purposes of the conference.  Other accommodation in the area, which is likely to be cheaper than the Hilton Liverpool City Centre, include:  Hampton by Hilton, IBIS, Days Inn (James Street), Premier Inn, Posh Pads and Travelodge. Delegates should book early to secure rooms. 

 

Delegates must ensure that their branch agrees to cover the cost of the accommodation – particularly if booking for more than a one-night stay.

 

Travel

Obviously, delegates will be coming from all over the country, but if they are coming through/from London, the first London to Liverpool train they can get Off-Peak departs from London Euston after 09:30 on weekdays and on Avanti West Coast, you can generally use Off-Peak tickets for trains departing London Euston after 09:30. 

 

Delegates are advised to book their transport arrangements early. 

 

Resolutions

Branches and Regional Councils are invited to submit suitable resolutions, relevant to health and safety within the transport industry as a whole. All resolutions must be emailed to Head Office (healthandsafety@rmt.org.uk) by 14^th January 2026.

 

Nominations for the RMT Willie Strang Safety Representative of the Year Award

Branches should complete the attached form if they want to nominate for the Willie Strang Safety Rep of the Year award and return this no later than 14^th January 2026.

 

If you have any queries about the contents of this circular, please contact the RMT Health and Safety section at healthandsafety@rmt.org.uk or telephone 0207 529 8817/8838.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Eddie Dempsey

General Secretary