New figures suggest that teachers are not at significantly higher risk of death from Covid-19 than the general population. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that care workers, restaurant staff, taxi drivers, security guards, nurses and people working in certain manufacturing roles were among those with the highest death rates....
Aviva reducing office space in favour of permanent home-working
Investment company Aviva has announced that it will be closing many of its offices across the UK and allowing staff to work from home as standard practice. Aviva currently employs 16,000 people in the UK and sought to assure that the changes they were making would not amount to job cuts and that staff...
Research reveals men’s mental health under pressure
Research by mental health charity Mind has revealed that men feel worried or low more regularly than they did 10 years ago. Mind compared new polling data from YouGov with results from the same survey conducted in 2009 to see how men’s experiences of mental health issues have changed over the past decade. They...
HSE checks Covid-secure measures in transport and logistics
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been conducting spot inspections on transport and logistics firms to ensure they’re managing the risk of Covid-19 during periods of high demand. Britain’s health and safety watchdog has been working with local authorities to carry out the spot inspections and ensure that businesses in the transport...
Nestle fined £640,000 after workers arm trapped in machine
Nestle UK Ltd have been prosecuted and fined £640,000 after a worker was injured when their arm became trapped in a machine. The company appeared at Bradford Crown Court, where they pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations in relation to the incident, which “could so easily have been avoided.” The court heard...
‘Shocking’ rise in child abuse during lockdown
The Children’s Society has described the 27% increase in reported incidents of children dying or being seriously harmed following suspected child abuse or neglect as ‘shocking.’ It has been revealed that the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel received 285 serious incident notifications from April to September 2020, following England’s first national lockdown to combat...
Skills for Care investigates key issues affecting BAME workers
A recent survey from Skills for Care has found that adult social care workers from black, Aisan and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds face significant challenges with racism, progression, representation and health. People from BAME backgrounds account for 1 in 5 of the adult social care workforce in England, but despite playing a crucial role...
Early Years groups call for vaccine priority
Early years groups are calling for nursery workers to receive the Covid-19 vaccine as a priority. The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (Pacey), Early Years Alliance (EYA) and National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) want mass testing to be carried out in early years settings, as well as vaccine priority for the early...
New Oxford vaccine rolled out to GP sites
It has been confirmed that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for Covid-19 is to be rolled out to hundreds of GP-led vaccination sites in local communities today. Over 700 local vaccination sites, as well as another 180 GP-led sites, 100 new hospital sites, and possibly local pharmacy sites as part of a new pilot scheme, will...
Delay to new school term will be ‘as short as possible’
The Education Secretary has said that the closure of schools in England due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic would be as “short as possible.” Gavin Williamson defended the recently announced delay to the start of the new school term, saying that the government was “battling this hidden enemy” and that schools were being provided...
Study shows pandemic’s impact on mental health
A new research study has found that key indicators of poor mental health and wellbeing – such as loneliness, suicidality and not coping well with stress – have worsened among UK adults since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The four-nation longitudinal study, led by the Mental Health Foundation and its university partners, has...
Müller group fined after worker’s fingers amputated
Major yoghurt and dessert manufacturer, Müller, has been fined £66,000 after an agency worker had to have their fingers amputated following a “preventable incident.” The Müller UK & Ireland Group, based in Minsterley, Shrewsbury, appeared at Walsall Magistrates’ Court this month where they pleaded guilty to breaching the Provision and Use of Work Equipment...
Health and safety guidance as Brexit transition period ends
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued guidance for complying with health and safety law as the transition period following Britain leaving the EU comes to an end on 31st December 2020. When the Brexit transition period officially ends, businesses in the UK will still have the same responsibility to protect the health,...
HSE busts Christmas health and safety myths
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has busted some common health and safety myths that tend to circulate around the festive period. Keen to dispel the many myths and misconceptions around health and safety law, guidance and standards, the HSE has identified a series of festive myths through media stories and reports from the...
Mencap report reveals Covid-19 inequalities for people with learning disabilities
A new report from Mencap has revealed the “shockingly high health inequalities” faced by people with a learning disability during the Covid-19 pandemic. The report, entitled ‘My Health, My Life: Barriers to healthcare for people with a learning disability during the pandemic’, reveals a number of failings and highlights shocking figures which show that...