STANDING STRONG FOR SAFETY

POA at the Second Safety Reps Connect

When trade union safety reps gather under one roof, something powerful happens. The conversations sharpen, the shared experiences resonate and the collective determination to protect workers becomes unmistakably clear. That spirit was alive and well in Leeds last November, when a group of Consultative Committee members attended the Second Safety Reps Connect event on behalf of the POA.

Hosted by the TUC, the event brought together hundreds of reps from across the movement including rail, health, education, manufacturing, local government, and, crucially, the prison service. It was a day built around solidarity, skill building, and a shared commitment to ensuring that every worker goes home safe.

For those of us representing frontline staff in one of the most challenging environments in the public sector, the timing could not have been more relevant.

A NATIONAL PICTURE THAT CANNOT BE IGNORED

The day opened with a stark but motivating overview from the Health and Safety Executive. While workplace fatalities have fallen dramatically since the 1970s, the message was clear: the job is far from done. Work-related ill health, particularly stress and mental ill health, is rising sharply across the UK workforce.

For POA members, this is not news. Staffing shortages, escalating violence and relentless operational pressure have pushed many to breaking point. Hearing the national data laid out so plainly only reinforced what we already know: the prison service must take mental health and fatigue seriously, not as an afterthought but as a core safety priority.

WORKSHOPS THAT HIT HOME

The TUC’s programme was packed with sessions that spoke directly to the realities of our workplaces.

PREVENTING WORK-RELATED STRESS

This workshop could have been written for our sector. It explored the causes of stress, the legal duties on employers and the practical steps reps can take to challenge unsafe workloads. The emphasis on early intervention and proper occupational health support echoed the POA’s long-standing concerns.

INSPECTING THE WORKPLACE

A reminder that inspections are not a tick-box exercise but a legal right and one of the most powerful tools a rep has. The session reinforced the importance of visibility, documentation and persistence. In a prison environment, where risks shift daily, this message landed with particular force.

CLIMATE, HEAT AND THE CHANGING WORKPLACE

With summers getting hotter and older buildings struggling to cope, the discussion around heat stress and ventilation was especially relevant. Many of our establishments are simply not designed for the climate we now face.

WOMEN’S HEALTH IN WORK

A thoughtful and practical session that highlighted the importance of inclusive risk assessments, something the prison service must continue to improve.

LEGAL UPDATES: WHAT’S CHANGING AND WHY IT MATTERS

Thompsons Solicitors delivered a detailed update on recent case law and regulatory reform. Key points included:

• A review of workplace temperature guidance
• Proposed changes to RIDDOR reporting
• Ongoing scrutiny of asbestos management
• The growing regulatory interest in artificial intelligence and automation.

For the prison estate, where ageing infrastructure, complex reporting systems and new technologies collide, these developments will shape the safety landscape for years to come.

SHARED STRUGGLES, SHARED STRENGTH

One of the most powerful aspects of the day was hearing from reps across other sectors. Whether it was violence in healthcare, fatigue in transport or stress in education, the themes were strikingly familiar.

It was a reminder that while our workplaces differ, the challenges facing workers are often the same and the solutions are stronger when unions stand together.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR POA MEMBERS

The learning from Safety Reps Connect translates directly into action on the landings, in workshops, and across our establishments. Key priorities emerging from the event include:

• Strengthening local inspections and ensuring they are rep led
• Challenging under reporting of incidents and near misses
• Updating risk assessments to reflect real operational pressures
• Pushing for meaningful occupational health support
• Ensuring reps have full access to safety documentation
• Keeping mental health and fatigue at the forefront of safety discussions
• These are not abstract goals, they are practical steps that protect staff every day.

A FINAL WORD

Safety Reps Connect was more than a conference. It was a reminder of the power of collective action, the importance of skilled and confident reps and the central role unions play in keeping workers safe.

For the POA, the message is clear: we are part of a wider movement, and our fight for safer prisons is recognised, supported and strengthened by that solidarity.

As always, I remain committed to bringing that national learning back into our establishment and ensuring that the safety, dignity and wellbeing of POA members remain non negotiable. l

GARY MILSOM-JAMES
HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE