Occupational Health news

The Keep Britain Working review, led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, has revealed significant economic impacts of long-term sickness and disability in the UK workforce: Proposed Solutions The review aims to create a more inclusive workforce by making businesses more accountable for employee health support. Final recommendations are expected later this year, with the goal of reducing economic inactivity and improving labor market productivity.

Health surveillance is a programme of systematic and regular health checks that enable early identification of work-related ill health and allows corrective action to be taken when needed. The health checks may be required by law for employees who are exposed to certain elements at work that can harm their health. These can include: Health surveillance is also important for: When is it required? A risk assessment should be used in the first instance to identify if there is any

Have you checked your own risk management arrangements? An Essex-based company that makes windows and doors has been hit with a £4,000 fine after repeatedly failing to protect its workers from exposure to wood dust. Timbercraft Windows & Doors Limited, which also manufactures wooden conservatories, was visited by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on three occasions over a 12-year period. Those visits, to the company’s workshop on Severalls Industrial Park in Colchester, identified large build-ups of wood dust around

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust failed to recognise the employee had a disability under the Equality Act 2010 and consequently did not make reasonable adjustments. The Manchester Employment Tribunal has ruled that there was no chance that cleaner Zoe Kitching, who was sacked by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust on 27 June 2023 for historic absences that amounted to taking more than 400 sick days in four years, would have been fairly dismissed in

Workers and employers can have a strange relationship with sleep. It’s just as essential to life as eating, drinking and breathing – yet it can be abused, almost seen as an inconvenience. Some organisations even view their long-hours culture as a badge of honour. The longer-term damage caused by bad sleep hygiene in return for any short-term gain can be huge. The reality is that we can’t ‘game’ sleep patterns in the long run without damage to our health, performance

The Department for Work and Pensions, alongside the Department for Health and Social Care, is launching an initiative called the Work Well programme. This £64 million trial, set to begin in October, is designed to integrate work and health support services, aiding those with chronic illnesses or disabilities in re-joining the workforce. Work Well will be piloted in 15 areas across England, including Birmingham, Solihull, Cambridgeshire, Greater Manchester, Leicester, parts of north London, and South Yorkshire. The program aims to

There are many reasons employers don’t include stress in risk assessment, but it’s actually a legal requirement.  The law requires all employers to prevent work-related stress to support good mental health in the workplace.  HSE provide templates and guidance  https://lnkd.in/eftzsG7a We provide support contact : ohteam@hawkeshealth.com

The Regulator has recently updated their vibration web guidance, providing valuable insights on measurement and monitoring, advice to employers, and a comprehensive guide to using the HSE hand-arm vibration exposure calculator. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 and Vibration risk assessment are also included in these updates.Stay informed and ensure the safety of yourself and your colleagues by checking out the latest guidance here: https://lnkd.in/dcnKBa5U Further assistance email: ohteam@hawkehealth.com or phone 0800 193 6222

A total of 68 members of the public were killed as a result of a work-related incident in 2022/23.  Working in dangerous or safety-critical industries can also have a huge impact outside the workplace. At Hawkes Health, we play a key role in working with organisations to create drug and alcohol-free workplaces, helping to ensure all personnel are safe to work. Workplace drug and alcohol testing also protects the general public. As an organisation, responsibility for upholding safety protocols and

There are no changes to legal requirements, but the updated guidance will help you understand how and when to submit a report under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). The improvements are based on feedback from stakeholders. Main changes to the guidance: Main changes to the forms: Find the updated guidance on RIDDOR