The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has responded to the publication of the new Employment Rights Bill, saying it “has the potential to be a watershed moment for the UK,” providing “long overdue” protections for workers. IOSH’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Ruth Wilkinson, published a statement in response to the...
Health and safety for the winter season
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is providing employers with tailored seasonal guidance for protecting workers during the winter months. Britain’s health and safety watchdog is addressing health and safety risks for seasonal and temporary workers, lone workers, preventing slips, trips and falls on icy surfaces, working in low temperatures, and preventing manual handling...
Stress Awareness Week: Improve stress management in the workplace
International Stress Awareness Week, observed from 4th-8th November, and Stress Awareness Day (6th November) aim to reduce stress and improve wellbeing. Run by the International Stress Management Association (ISMAUK), the annual campaign is designed to raise global awareness of stress and stress management, and combat the stigma associated with stress and mental health issues....
HSE spotlights worker health during Lung Cancer Awareness Month
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is emphasising the need to control asbestos and protect workers’ health during Lung Cancer Awareness Month this November. Britain’s health and safety watchdog highlighted the fact that 12,000 people still die from work-related lung diseases, including lung cancer, each year. These deaths are linked to exposure to hazardous...
Skills for Care warns “clock is ticking” on social care recruitment
The latest report from Skills for Care highlights ongoing social care recruitment and retention challenges, with any workforce improvements driven by international recruitment. The State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report reveals that the adult social care workforce grew, and vacancies fell, for the second successive year during 2023-24....
Learn CPR and save lives with Restart a Heart Day 2024
Today (16th October) is Restart a Heart Day 2024, which aims to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and encourage people to learn life-saving CPR. Taking place on and around 16th October every year, Restart a Heart Day is led by an alliance of national and international partners, such as the British Heart Foundation,...
World Mental Health Day 2024: Prioritise mental health in the workplace
World Mental Health Day falls on 10th October each year, and the theme for the global campaign in 2024 is ‘It is Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace.’ World Mental Health Day was established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). For the past 32 years, the campaign has...
Construction firm fined after ‘tragic incident’ led to worker death
A major construction company has been fined £285,000 after a “tragic incident” led to the death of one worker and seriously injured another. Balfour Beatty were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for health and safety failings which led to the incident during the construction of a new engineering hall at the...
IOSH campaign tackles unpaid hours affecting worker health and safety
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has launched a new campaign to highlight the issue of ‘small print’ in workers’ contracts, after their recent survey revealed an “epidemic” of unpaid work could be risking worker health and safety. The world’s largest occupational safety and health (OSH) body says that half of the...
Pay more attention to happiness at work
The last week of September (23rd-27th September 2024) is International Week of Happiness at Work, encouraging both individuals and organisations to pay more attention to happiness at work. The international movement highlights the fact that we spend a significant portion of our lives at work, and it therefore has a major influence on our...
ADHD Awareness is key this October – and all year-round
October is ADHD Awareness Month and the theme for 2024 is “Awareness is key!” Organisations across the world are partnering to help raise awareness and impart valuable information about ADHD and its treatments. Organisations including ADHD Europe, the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD), the Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada (CADDAC),...
300 new state nurseries promised to meet childcare demands
The Education Secretary has pledged the introduction of 300 new state nurseries in England within the next 12 months. The nurseries are set to open within English schools by next September to meet rising demand prompted by the introduction of free childcare for children from the age of 9 months. The new Labour government...
NSPCC reports rise in sextortion contacts
NSPCC has reported that their Childline service has seen a marked increase in the number of contacts they receive about sextortion. The confidential charity helpline provided over 900 counselling sessions for children concerned about sextortion – online sexual extortion – during 2023-24. This represents a 7% increase from 2022-23. During this same period, the...
NSPCC calls for early years support to better protect young children
The NSPCC is calling on the government to invest in early years’ services to ensure we are “keeping the youngest children safe from harm”. The national children’s charity has spoken out after data showed that almost 4 in 10 of its Helpline referrals involved children aged 5 and under. The NSPCC said that their...
Youth Mental Health Day urges young people to control their scroll
It’s Youth Mental Health Day and the theme for 2024 is #ControlYourScroll. Youth Mental Health Day is an annual awareness campaign falling on 19th September which aims to raise awareness and foster discussion around the mental health challenges young people face. This year, the mental health campaign, spearheaded by youth mental health charity stem4,...