Inspirational reps
On track to a safer workplace
H&S rep Brett Cornwell's Unite journey of discovery
Brett Cornwell is a Unite health and safety rep who works for Network Rail as an electrical controller. Though based in Romford, Essex, the skills he has learnt through Unite Education’s training has resulted in him covering the country as the lead safety rep for the union at Network Rail.
Brett started his journey, as most health and safety reps do, with the Unite Health and Safety Part 1A course. He soon worked through Parts 1B, 2A and completed the training with 2B.
He followed this up with Unite’s Accident Investigation course and has also completed Workplace Reps’ training.
This training has been invaluable in developing, not only Brett’s role as a rep, but also his wider knowledge and skills. He now travels the country investigating accidents on the railways from Scotland to the South Coast.
When a passenger train in Scotland hit a landslip near Carmont on its way to Aberdeen, resulting in three fatalities and six injuries in August 2020 Brett led the Unite trade union observer side of the investigation. More recently he was involved with a Level 3 (major incident) investigation in Kent.
The training he has received from Unite Education on the health and safety courses also came in vital when union reps were involved in updating all the workplace Risk Assessments a few years as part of the employer's new Covid separation policies.
“The Health and Safety Reps training from Unite Education is fantastic, and I encourage all the reps in my sector to attend all four courses”
Brett Cornwell, Unite lead safety rep, Network Rail
Carrying out risk assessments is just one of the many areas of work that is included in Unite’s health and safety training. Other elements include:
● Understanding the rights and role of a health and safety rep;
● Understanding health and safety law and the employers’ legal and moral responsibilities;
● How to set up safety committees and handle health and safety issues with members and local management;
● Understanding different types of hazards – among many more.
Currently Brett is working with Unite health and safety adviser Rob Miguel to develop training for reps in the sector that will build on the skills learnt on the core Unite Education training.
Brett said, “The health and safety reps training from Unite Education is fantastic, and I encourage all the reps in my sector to attend all four courses.
“At Network Rail the union has negotiated a good amount of time off for training, and reps really must make use of it and take advantage of all the courses they can.”
The course being developed plans to be for all reps in Network Rail and will be in “bite-sized” chunks.
Brett explained, “The course will be around rail safety, and include a mix of subjects that myself and Rob are pulling together.
“We are currently sorting out the syllabus, but the plan is to include short two-hour sessions covering areas such as “Organising for Safety” and “Mental Health at Work”.
Brett will continue on his journey to make the railways a safer environment for workers and the public – a journey that was kick started by the training offered by Unite Education.
By Keith Hatch
“The union has negotiated a good amount of time off for training, and reps really must make use of it and take advantage of all the courses they can”
Brett Cornwell, Unite lead safety rep, Network Rail