'Exemplary commitment' to workers' safety

This year’s Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) awards include the nomination of Unite national health and safety advisor Rob Miguel for the ‘most influential person’ category, and Unite is urging all those who have worked with Rob to go online and vote.

Greater Manchester Hazards Centre co-ordinator Janet Newsham hailed Rob’s nomination. Commenting, she said, “Many of us know Rob personally as a committed and engaging national health and safety officer with Unite who is passionate about creating a safe and healthy working environment for workers.  He speaks with enthusiasm and humour on the many subjects across the health and safety platform. 

“But Rob is so much more than this — he gives his advice freely and never aloof and represents workers on many national and international organisations.  He has decades of experience and knowledge.  He is well deserving of the nomination and hopefully is successful.  So please encourage your contacts to vote for Rob here. The voting deadline is Monday, November 24, 2024.”
 
Rob was nominated jointly by three different unions. Their nomination read:

“Having spent two decades as a workplace health and safety representative, working as an electrician and maintenance engineer, Rob went on to become an officer of one of Britain’s largest trade unions, having spent the last 25 years supporting other workers and at Unite, supports over one million members across a variety of industries including construction, transport and manufacturing.

“At a national level, Rob represents workers within the HSE’s Industry Competence Committee, advising the new Building Safety Regulator, and providing much-needed representation for employees in critical decision-making processes. He also brings the staff voice to the NHS Employers’ Health, Safety and Wellbeing Group.

“Over the years, Rob has fulfilled this function on a number of government and industrial bodies. Rob’s influence extends globally, too, with his current role leading negotiations for Britain at the ILO’s 112th Conference on Biological Hazards for 2024-2025, where he is shaping the future of international standards in workplace safety.

“Some of the work Rob has played an influential role in within Unite includes national agreements on safe working in construction, and the development of its ‘Get Me Home Safely’ campaign to protect workers during journeys to and from the workplace. Rob’s leadership was crucial during the Covid-19 pandemic, where he played a key role in shaping Unite’s response to the crisis. He supported workers in sectors like transport and healthcare, ensuring their safety through the implementation of robust measures and contributing to the government’s safer working guidelines.

“Rob also initiated and leads on Unite’s prostate cancer campaign, researching and raising awareness amongst employers and the union’s membership, and has championed the role of union safety representatives, with a special focus on increasing diversity by encouraging under-represented groups to step into these critical roles. As one of the few prominent voices in the world of occupational safety and health from a BME background, he serves as an inspiration to black members and has helped highlight the link between the OSH and anti-racism agendas.”

“His commitment to centring workers’ voices in the fight to make work safer is exemplary, and his work continues to create safer, fairer workplaces across Britain, and as he approaches his well-earned retirement, we hope this nomination serves as recognition of the influence he’s had on many in the trade union movement and beyond.”

Don’t forget to vote before the deadline on Monday, November 24 here.

By UniteLive team