Contact Local Union Leadership
Contact your local union leadership and let them know you need assistance from Health and Safety Department with a specific request.
Health & Safety Training
The UAW Health and Safety Department provides Local Unions and their respective companies with:
- Assistance in negotiating health and safety programs,
- Reviewing injury/illness information and chemical exposure data,
- Conducting research,
- Participation in governmental and consensus standard setting,
- Developing joint health and safety training programs, and
- Delivering health and safety training.
Assessments and Audits
The International Union, UAW Health and Safety Department Staff assist in identifying a formal system of performance review (Audit/Assessments) as an effective means of obtaining and re-enforcing Local, State and Federal compliance with established health and safety requirements. Also, the Health and Safety Department Staff will assist and evaluate the Health and Safety Programs to validate effectiveness. Staff will perform a “Walk Around” of UAW represented companies and review the audit findings, upon request with the local union and when applicable the company. The purpose of the Audits/Assessments is to review the effectiveness of health and safety activities/programs in order to reach the operation levels that are required and implemented across the workplace.
Bargaining Assistance
The UAW Health and Safety Department is the premiere union in negotiating improvements to ensure health, safety, and wellbeing of its members in their work environment. The shortcomings of many OSHA provisions are well known and there are gaps in the regulations and standards that are not protective enough for our members. The Health and Safety Department assists national departments and regions in bargaining protections that exceed OSHA standards and develops model safety programs in all sectors of the UAW. While our traditional big 3 plants and many of our larger represented workplaces have some good health and safety provisions and language in their agreements, many of our other facilities are lacking when it comes to these provisions. The International Union UAW Health and Safety Department has focused on improving the health and safety language in our Independent Part Supplier, Technical, Office and Professional groups and Higher Education sectors.
Some provisions we have been successful in implementing into these agreements are establishing joint health and safety committees with scheduled meetings that follow an agenda and meeting minutes are kept. Health and safety training for the joint committee and membership paid for by the employer. Audit language allowing the International Department to jointly inspect our workplaces and perform documents reviews of company’s health and safety policy and procedures. The department has also been successful in negotiating right to refuse hazardous work and right to strike over hazardous conditions and work language. Language that includes provisions for lower limits for exposure to known chemical hazards, research into emerging hazards, provisions to deal with workplace violence, and ergonomic programs to reduce musculoskeletal disorders.
Memorializing strong health and safety language in all our contracts across every sector we represent is essential in an era where deregulation is increasingly common and state and federal protections are too often weakened or inconsistently enforced.
Workers cannot rely solely on external regulatory agencies to safeguard their well‑being. When standards are rolled back or enforcement resources are reduced, the risks shift directly to the people performing the work.
Request(s) For Assistance (RFA)
Following this protocol will ensure prompt assistance when requested.
