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Joint initiative sees HSC and Department of Health take good practice to small- and medium-sized businesses
Making occupational health services more accessible to employees of small- and medium-sized enterprises is the focus of a new report by the Health and Safety Commission and the Department of Health.
The report contains 30 recommendations for occupational health covering: delivery of support through local partnerships, changing behaviour and promoting awareness of sector issues and training for medical professionals.
Sandra Caldwell, director of the Health and Safety Executive's Health Directorate, said, "With effective occupational health support and advice, health risks and illness at work can be managed in ways which are neither costly nor difficult. But there are real challenges in making such support and advice available to people at work in small enterprises. Practical solutions are needed and the recommendations in the report offer these."
The two bodies have agreed on a joint action plan to implement the recommendations, working in partnership with organisations ranging from NHS trusts to local authorities to representatives of small businesses and their employees.
Copies of the free report Occupational Health Advisory Committee Report and Recommendations on Improving Access to Occupational Health Support are available from Angela Wearne at the HSE, Rose Court, 2 Southwark Bridge, London SE1 9HS, tel 020-7717 6225, e-mail [email protected]
The HSE is also inviting contributions to its new occupational health strategy Securing Health Together at www.ohstrategy.net
Key recommendations
- Comprehensive frameworks for OH support to be established
- Oh resources and delivery mechanisms to give priority to prevention of healt
