What They Are and Why They Matter in Occupational Health “Fitness for work assessments” is one of the most searched terms in occupational health and for good reason. These evaluations help employers and employees understand whether someone is medically and psychologically fit to perform their job safely. Yet confusion persists, because nearly all occupational health…
By Paul Hinckley, Occupational Health Nurse Advisor at Staywell Occupational Health – October 2020 We have all been on a challenging and difficult journey so far in 2020, we may have come to terms with the immediate urgency that coronavirus has brought, but now what? The threat of COVID-19 remains with us, and whilst research into…
The danger of noise and its impact on health doesn’t generally figure highly on most people’s list of workplace hazards. Many don’t realise there are Noise at Work Regulations that all companies need to comply. Neither do they understand that prolonged exposure to certain levels of noise can cause irreparable hearing damage. The following statistics…
Our lungs are complex and fragile organs. Responsible for getting oxygen into our blood stream, they are composed of millions of air sacs and hundreds of miles of capillaries. We have come to recognise in recent times the problems posed by poor air quality but many people are exposed to potentially dangerous situations in their…
Business and industry have long paid more attention to the safety aspect of health and safety. The construction industry has seen a cultural shift in safety that has led to an 80% reduction in workplace fatalities over the last 40 years. There has been no such progress in Occupational Health. Organisations including the Health and…
Hand-arm vibration injuries are caused by using machinery or tools that can, over time, lead to damage to the fingers, hands or arms. It can, for instance, be caused by using power tools or operating heavy machinery such as concrete breakers and pedestal grinders. Whether you are at risk of HAVS depends on how often…
Today is World Day for Health and Safety at Work. Intended to promote safe practices across the globe and better health in the workplace, it’s an important reminder for any business in today’s competitive world of their responsibility to employees. Good health and safety makes good business sense – it puts employees at the forefront…
There are many sectors and industries in the UK where an employee needs to drive as part of their work. This includes everyone from train and bus drivers to sales reps, builders and manual workers. As much as 25% of accidents on the road are thought to involve someone who is driving as part of…
Employers have a duty of care to ensure the health and safety of their employees. This is even more important when safety critical tasks are being performed. Because of this, industries such as construction can benefit from giving their workers regular health checks that ensure they are fit for task and not liable to cause…
One area that is often overlooked in the workplace is skin problems. Contact or occupational dermatitis can be found in almost any industry and thousands of people suffer from it each year because of their work. The problem is that there is often not just a single cause and it can take a good deal…
