Hazards Conference livens up London

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Over 500 safety reps and campaigners gathered at the London School of Economics over a weekend in September to participate in the 14th National Hazards Conference.

The conference opened with a meeting on Asbestos - the global killer. Activists from the UK and Japan spoke of how the industry has affected their communities and other communities around the globe. There were poster and photo displays from Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Japan and Southern Africa. The meeting called for a global ban on asbestos, full controls on the asbestos legacy in our buildings and proper, quick compensation, benefits and medical help for asbestos disease victims.

Saturday opened with a session where Ann Jones, whose son Simon was killed at work, and Dave Joyce, newly elected National Health and Safety Officer of the Communication Workers Union, called on the government to act on corporate manslaughter and other key issues. In the afternoon there were information meetings on workers' rights, privatisation, the environment and casualisation.

Workshops kept everyone busy for the rest of the day and first thing Sunday morning. Topics included stress, smoking at work, transport, lone working, chemicals, fire safety, etc.

International solidarity was the opening theme on Sunday with information about the murders of trade unionists in Colombia from Miguel Puerto, Colombian human rights lawyer, of the International Centre for Trade Union Rights (ICTUR).

This was followed by a debate about what needs to be done to make workplaces and the environment safer. There were again calls for the government to act on promises regarding corporate manslaughter legislation and improving workers' rights.

• For information on Hazards Conference 2004 contact Greater Manchester Hazards Centre 0161-953 4037 gmhazards@hotmail.com

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