GMB union is recognised as the leading British trade union on health, safety and environmental issues. GMB union health, safety and environmental policy states that the union will work: ‘To improve the quality of life of all GMB trade union members....by encouraging best practice on health, safety and environmental systems and standards at work, to reduce risks and to continuously raise standards.’

GMB trade union aim to develop this policy in a practical way, and to take steps to ensure that where our members work we strive to make their workplace safer.

The starting point for the GMB union approach to reducing accidents and ill health caused by work, is to identify what can cause harm. This could be noise, asbestos, lifting heavy boxes, dangerous machinery etc. Once the hazards have been identified the next step is to eliminate (or reduce as much as possible) the risk of these things causing harm.

GMB trade union Safety Reps do an absolutely vital job. Training helps Safety Reps to do the job more effectively and some courses may also lead to a qualification.