The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is calling for a “more proactive and holistic approach” to health and safety at work to prevent UK standards from falling. The world’s largest professional health and safety body is urging the government to ratify the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) conventions relating to occupational safety and...
IOSH says flexible working can boost health and safety
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has welcomed new regulations that support flexible working, saying it leads to “positive mental health and physical health.” The world’s largest professional health and safety body says the benefits of flexible work patterns also include “healthier and more sustainable lives” for workers and “lower absenteeism or...
HSE refreshes guidance on work-related violence and aggression
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued updated guidance to help employers protect their staff from work-related violence and aggression. Britain’s health and safety watchdog has refreshed the guidance as reported incidents of work-related violence and aggression have risen in recent years – numbering 688,000 in 2019-20. They say that experiencing violence and...
Firms warned not to ‘sleepwalk’ into health and safety nightmare
Following reports that job vacancies in the UK have hit a record high of 1 million, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has warned employers dealing with staff shortages not to “sleepwalk” into a health and safety nightmare. The leading professional body for occupational safety and health said that “worker shortages do...
Occupational safety and health leads Covid recovery
The Director of Professional Services at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has commented on how the occupational safety and health (OSH) profession is leading the way in the recovery from Covid-19. In a commentary featured in the Hays UK Salary and Recruiting Trends Guide 2021, Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher spoke of how OSH...
HSE Chair reflects on 12 months of Covid
The Chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Sarah Newton, has shared her reflections on the past year, which saw Britain and its workplaces battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Launching the HSE’s new regular website blog, Ms. Newton, who became Chair of Britain’s health and safety watchdog in August last year, explained that...
IOSH partners with WHO to protect lives and livelihoods
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has partnered with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide free online learning to help businesses and workers develop their knowledge around Covid-19. The two organisations have developed a new course which teaches people about preventing transmission of Covid-19 and managing the risks of returning to...
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...
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,...
How to protect home workers during Covid-19
As hundreds of thousands of workers continue to work from home in line with government guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has updated guidance for protecting home workers. Employers have the same health and safety responsibilities for home workers as they do for any other workers. The HSE explains...
IOSH calls for government to invest in workplace health and safety
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is calling on the government to invest in occupational safety and health (OSH) as it combats the Covid-19 pandemic. The world’s largest professional health and safety body has submitted proposals to the UK Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review which frame OSH as key to battling the pandemic...