The Government has suggested that nearly 18 bakers a year succumb to occupational asthma through their exposure to flour dust. The figures have emerged as part of a response to a written parliamentary question from Labour MP for Halifax Linda Ri  More...
01 June 2011 15:54

Constructing Better Health (CBH), the occupational health programme for the construction industry, has won £120,000 of funding from the Government and appointed a new occupational health director. The money from the Department of Health's "Innova  More...
01 June 2011 15:54

The CBI claims that fit notes have failed to deliver a reduction in sickness absence, with its publication of new absence figures today. According to the CBI's Absence and Workplace Health Survey , conducted in conjunction with Pfizer, the  More...
12 May 2011 11:12

The Government White Paper and consultation on health is an opportunity for OH practitioners to influence the business agenda, says Nic Paton. For occupational health practitioners, arguably the key sentence within the Government's public health Whi  More...
03 May 2011 10:07

The Atomic Weapons Establishment has become the latest big employer to join the Constructing Better Health occupational health scheme for workers in the construction industry. The company, which builds and maintains warheads for the UK's nuclea  More...
24 April 2011 15:05

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have welcomed a new approach to the development of wellbeing at work initiatives, reports Duncan Stephenson. In March 2011, the Department of Health launched the "Responsibility Deal". This is a voluntary   More...
21 April 2011 09:00

The Government's radical new public health strategy offers an opportunity to extend occupational health into primary care and improve links between GPs and OH practitioners, NHS Plus has said. In its response to the Government's White Paper Healthy   More...
20 April 2011 11:25

When it was launched one year ago the "fit note" was meant to cure one of the biggest headaches for HR managers. No longer would employees be signed off for weeks with no explanation or be allowed to slip into long-term sickness absence. But   More...
11 April 2011 09:38

OH professionals can support people adversely affected by dealing with traumatised colleagues. Sarah Silcox reviews a new book on the topic. Occupational health professionals have a key role to play in supporting people exposed to secondary tr  More...
11 April 2011 00:01

Methods of tackling stress at work that focus on teams as well as individuals can help to reduce conflict and cut absence. Jenny Rafferty explains. Company awaydays are often used to explore interpersonal conflict when tensions are thought to b  More...
11 April 2011 00:01

Occupational health professionals face a challenging time in 2011. Nic Paton canvasses views on the future of the Black reforms and the impact of spending cuts. April may be the cruellest month, but here's hoping that for occupational health pr  More...
11 April 2011 00:01

A new White Paper foresees a devolution of responsibilities in public health, with only a minor nod towards OH, John Manos argues. National public health service for England to be launched by 2012 Publication in November of the White Paper Hea  More...
11 April 2011 00:01

An ageing population can bring business benefits but also has new challenges for healthcare. As the Government plans to scrap the default retirement age, occupational health practitioners have a responsibility to ensure that the health costs associa  More...
11 April 2011 00:01

A conference organised by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine in London in December 2010 explored the theme: "Promoting quality in occupational health - how can we do better". Noel O'Reilly reports. The SEQOHS (Safe Effective Quality Occu  More...
11 April 2011 00:01

The issues raised by the new public health White Paper echo many of the concerns first raised 50 years ago, says Dr Richard Preece. Exactly 50 years ago, in an article entitled Occupational medicine and public health, Robert Kehoe wrote: "There  More...
11 April 2011 00:01

The Government has announced that it is to launch a major review into the sickness absence system in the UK. The outcome of this review could open up a world of opportunities for occupational health professionals, says Noel O'Reilly. Like politic  More...
31 March 2011 10:29

Although occupational health was not targeted in government cuts, it will be caught in the cross-fire. Nic Paton reports. It is fair to say the words "occupational health" did not pass Chancellor George Osborne's lips when he stood up in the Hou  More...
07 March 2011 00:01

The joint conference of the Society of Occupational Medicine and the Royal College of Nursing took place in Brighton on 18-19 October 2010. The theme was: "The Common Goal - getting the best results in occupational health practice". Noel   More...
07 March 2011 00:01

The OH profession's remit is expanding, but many employers are unsure what it is all about. It is time to define that OH brand, says Karen Coomer. Branding is a concept that is used to differentiate a service or product from that of a competito  More...
07 March 2011 00:01

How useful is the occupational health evidence base in practice? Nic Paton asks the experts. What should be the evidence base for occupational health interventions? What, in the context of occupational health, should even constitute "evidence"? What  More...
07 March 2011 00:01