WHS Ltd

Critical Safety Health Assessments and Surveillance

2012-02-02T02:48:00.001-08:00

Critical Safety Health Assessments and Surveillance

These type of health assessments are a necessary means of ensuring employees are fit and healthy to do some of the more potentially hazardous (to themselves and others) tasks. These tasks include;-

working at height-off of ladders, scaffolding or similar
working in confined spaces
driving fork lift vehicles
being exposed to substances that could cause ill-health by skin contact or inhalation
exposure to respiratory sensitisers.

The assessment also provides a benchmark on the individuals health status that helps to monitor the individuals health during employment.
Workers who carry out safety-critical tasks need a full medical assessment. Decisions on fitness for work can only be taken by a competent occupational health person.

A typical health assessment of this type would include (not exhaustive)
Specific health questionnaire to the hazard/task

Height/weight
Blood pressure
Eyesight screening
Lung function....

Detailed medical assessments are confidential to the worker and the occupational health adviser or general practitioner. However, an employer can reasonably expect the occupational health adviser to provide a general report about individual fitness in terms of:

fit for work;
fit for work with restrictions;
temporarily does not meet the fitness standard; or
unable to meet the fitness for work to carry out specific jobs.

This is the only information that an employer needs to ensure an appropriate match of worker to job.

In practise your risk assessments will identify who needs what health assessment along guidance from the relative health and safety regulations

2012-01-31T05:57:00.001-08:00

Managing sickness absence?

Many small and medium enterprises (SME) do not have a qualified and experienced human resources function due to the costs required (OHAC, 2009). Evidence suggests therefore that managers are not always trained in absence management; the resulting effect is the impact of long term absence on the business. This is because it is not considered until an employee's absence has incurred heavy financial loss.

Evidence highlighted within a paper from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE, 2006) suggests that 82% of all reported OH injuries occur within SMEs and in some cases these figures rise to 90% of fatal accidents at work.

Anecdotal evidence, however, suggests that some small businesses typically operate in fire-fighting mode, and adopt a "close the stable door after the horse has bolted" approach to the management of health problems at work.

Despite evidence from studies that indicate that a large number of SMEs recognise the importance of good OH provision, only 3% of people working in SMEs have access to comprehensive OH advice (Pilkington et al, 2001).

Case study 1. Resolving a few health issues

A small company in South Wales had received a visit from the local HSE inspector following a complaint from an employee who had alleged that he was experiencing secondary health effects after exposure to a certain metal in the manufacturing process. To date, this is yet to be proven.

Despite control measures being implemented throughout the company, there was little evidence of statutory health surveillance under the Control of Noise at Work and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. As such, the HSE inspector recommended that health surveillance was to be undertaken following the necessary risk assessments.

After the initial audiometry (hearing), spirometry (breathing) and skin inspection screening was completed in 2008, a number of changes were made to the processes and control measures following advice from OH. These included skin inspection when the OH nurse spotted an increased incidence of irritant dermatitis within the company. Following liaison with management, the cause was identified as the regular use of acetone as a hand-washing agent. The incidence of skin problems has now been substantially reduced.

Interestingly, the company has only received personal injury claims that pre-date the OH attendance at the company. At present, they are looking at case management referrals and best practice forklift truck driver assessments.

Taking good care of your workforce depends on you having access to people with the right specialist knowledge, who are able to deliver occupational health services where you need them, which is usually in the workplace.

We can provide a service based on your needs assessment. This keeps your costs to a minimum but ensures you look after your staff, your business and your bottom line.

For any help or advice on any of the above issues or to chat through your Occupational Health &Safety needs just email to mattisonp@aol.com or

call 07958 978278

First aid for all

2012-01-31T05:55:00.000-08:00

The British Heart Foundationwanted to raise awareness and teach people how to do the “no kissies” kind ofCPR, so they have hired tough guy VinnieJones to teach us how. On top of the mobster theme and Vinnie’scronies sliding a dying man in need of CPR across a floor so Vinnie can savehim, Vinnie saves the suffering man to the tune of “Stayin’ Alive,” becauseeveryone in need of CPR prefers a soundtrack.

This amusing but underlying seriousnature of this video shows the technique and what should be done and can bedone by anyone. The link between the “stayin alive” tune and CPR has beenaround for some time and is an excellent way of remembering the simpleprocedure and timing.

By far the most popular is the 2 hour emergency firstaid training we have been doing for many years incorporates the “Stayin alive” tune plus another 1 or 2. The sessions areinformative, simple and from the feedback really worth it and most participantsare really glad they volunteered.

If you would like a session or two we can take up to10 people per session and they will learn not only CPR but also the recoveryposition and few other valuable skills.

We can’t all be a Vinnie Jones but we can all be alife saver

2011-09-12T07:20:00.000-07:00

From a straw poll of local industries it seems few are aware of the best way of managing sickness absence in their companies. There is a "Toolkit" available from the HSE website and links on the Fit Note procedure that with the help of occupational health could make employees and employers life a lot simpler.
If you need help in understanding this new approach to managing sickness absence or need training for managers and supervisors give us a call on 07958978278

HSE Newsletter

2011-08-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

For those who want a quick update on whats happening in H&S and if it may affect them use the link below to go the HSE Summer Newsletter. Its well presented and easy on the eye.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/newsletter-jul11.pdf

PJM

Accident reporting procedure changes

2011-08-15T09:16:00.001-07:00

A gentle reminder for all those that are responsible for reporting accidents in the workplace. The HSE has confirmed that from September aside from fatal injuries and major incidents all other reportable work-related injuries and incidents under RIDDOR will move to a predominantly online system

Eye sight testing possibly mandatory for drivers

2011-07-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Eye test advice

This is something that could be a significant cost for some companies. The following is just one way of tackling this issue

Businesses facing the prospect of eyesight test charges should consider offsetting occupational health costs with cash plan provision according to healthcare and risk management specialist PMI Health Group.
The advice comes in the wake of an EU directive making regular eye tests mandatory for employees who drive while on company business.
"The responsibility to provide access to regular sight tests is likely to fall to the employer," according to PMI Health group compliance director Mike Blake. "This presents an opportunity to introduce an employee benefit to cover this cost and other healthcare risks faced by drivers such as back problems." Cash plans, which can cost from as little as 60p per employee per week, offer a wide range of benefits including physiotherapy and optical provisions to cover the additional cost of eye tests ushered in by the new legislation.

PJM

Sickness absence and the "Fit Note"

2011-07-21T02:22:00.000-07:00

For those that actively manage sickness absence the HSE has produced a publication about how approach effective management of sickness absence and the various causes. Although aimed at safety and union reps it does make provide a basis on what needs to be done on a practical level using the knowledge of those around you.

Its 12 pages long but if you scan through there is something there for everyone. It also has a few good links to other HSE free publications.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/web02.pdf

pjm

A little helping hand with all this health and safety malarkey

2011-07-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

For those who dont undertsand or just need to be reassured that what they are doing is ok this blog will hopefully prove to be a useful resource.

Don't forget to do

Workstation assessments.

Don’t forget they need to be reviewed regularly (annually is a good rule of thumb) and sooner should there be any significant changes to the workstation and or the employee or work tasks.

Should an employee suffer from any discomfort ensure they are assessed by a competent person who knows about ergonomics and the regulations minimum standards. Unchecked aches and pains can be a costly outcome for all concerned if not managed properly. RSI and other strange named conditions can be very painful for the employee.