11. Health and safety and violence
Practical guidance for reps and organisers
Organisers working in social care environments can face specific risks themselves. Lone working, intimidation by rogue employers, and exposure to traumatising stories are significant hazards. UNISON’ s Social Care Organising Risk Assessment( Version 3, 2025) outlines safety procedures for organisers, including the‘ Tell Violet’ protocol for discreetly summoning help, mandatory lone working training, and routine welfare check-ins. This is highly relevant for branches deploying organisers to engage directly with migrant workers in difficult or dangerous settings. See full details in the resource section below.
Reps and organisers have a vital role in advocating for safe and respectful working conditions for their members. They can:
• Ensure that new staff receive proper training and understand their safety rights – especially when English is not their first language. Use visual materials and translated guides where necessary.
• Document concerns and raise them collectively where possible. Link cases across members to build a stronger case.
• Request risk assessments, particularly where workers are expected to work alone or night shifts. Ask whether language barriers, prior incidents and accommodation issues have been considered.
• Challenge unsafe accommodation by referring workers to housing advice agencies or raising concerns with local authorities.
• Support workers who report violence, harassment or sexual assault. Always prioritise the member’ s safety and consent. Signpost to rape crisis services and legal support. Report serious issues to the police or safeguarding teams when appropriate.
• Consider filing complaints with the Health and Safety Executive( HSE) where employers fail to act. Use formal incident reporting procedures if workers have been harmed.
• Encourage branches to maintain a clear system for logging incidents and patterns.
• Where retaliation occurs – e. g. victimisation for speaking up – help the member document what happened, seek legal advice and consider early conciliation or tribunal claims.
64 LRD • Supporting migrant workers