Research
First ‘game-changing’ new treatment for asthma attacks in 50 years
The first new treatment for asthma attacks in 50 years has been developed by researchers, in a move that is being hailed as ‘game-changing’ for patients. An injection given during…
Better reporting needed as scale of workplace harm revealed
Charity calls for clear reporting protocols after report finds only 51% of global workers experiencing workplace harm reported the incident.
Ditching two-child benefit gap would narrow health inequalities – research
Reducing child poverty in England, including scrapping the two-child benefit cap, would significantly boost child health and narrow general regional health inequalities, finds research.
Clinical governance
CPD: Occupational health in police and fire and rescue services
What does an occupational health service in police and fire and rescue services look like and what should it include?
CPD activities: Developing an NHS OH service
Our CPD article considers the challenges of developing an occupational health service for NHS staff, some of which are also relevant to in-house OH services at other organisations. These CPD…
‘An honour and privilege’ – what becoming a Queen’s Nurse means for OH
Leading OH nurse and academic Neil Loach will this autumn receive a singular accolade – becoming a Queen’s Nurse (QN), one of fewer than 50 OHNs to be celebrated in…
Continuing professional development
CPD activities: Learning from the experiences of working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic
These CPD activities, developed by Professor Anne Harriss, are designed to accompany this article by Charlotte E Hall on exploring the experiences of, and lessons from, working from home during…
CPD: Exploring the experiences of working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic
The sudden shift to working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic was a profound and destablising experience for many. PhD student Charlotte E Hall analyses some of the health and…
CPD activities: Invest to save – making the business case for spending on OH
These CPD activities, developed by Professor Anne Harriss, accompany Elaine Kerr’s article ‘Invest to save – making the business case for spending on OH’. They should help occupational health professionals…
Disability
Uncertainty over law hampering legal use of medical cannabis
A growing number of UK employees are now legally using medical cannabis to manage conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety and symptoms connected to the menopause, a study has suggested.…
Black security manager awarded £360k after decade of bullying
Manager who left job after being ‘victim of continuous bullying and racism’ – including being called a ‘slave’ – awarded £360,700 at tribunal.
Access to Work backlogs and delays costing businesses dear
Businesses employing disabled people are complaining they are owed hundreds of thousands of pounds by the government, and fear they may as a result have to let these staff go.…
Health surveillance
Employers ‘worryingly’ ignorant about stress risk assessments
Employer awareness, understanding and compliance with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stress risk assessment requirements remains “worryingly” low, a poll has found. The survey by Occupational Health Assessment of 115…
Tool developed for employers to calculate cost of respiratory illness
A tool has been developed to help businesses calculate the financial impact of respiratory illnesses within their workforce. The interactive tool, developed by pharmaceutical company Pfizer in partnership with the think-tank…
Why employers must do more to support all four ‘pillars’ of wellbeing
There is still too often a disconnect between how concerned employers say they are about employee health and wellbeing and what they are prepared to do about it – and…
Musculoskeletal disorders
Gen X storing up health problems by failing to exercise
Workers in their forties and fifties are becoming less likely to do regular exercise, so potentially storing up health problems for the future, research has suggested. The survey of ‘Gen…
Keep Britain Working review urging employers to ‘tell us what works’
The Mayfield review is urging employers and workplace health professionals to engage with it about what works and doesn’t work when it comes to healthcare interventions.
Half of adults globally set to be obese or overweight by 2050, warns shocking new study
More than half of adults globally and a third of children and adolescents will be overweight or experiencing obesity by 2050, according to a shocking new prediction. The forecast, published…
OH employment law
CPD: Occupational health in police and fire and rescue services
What does an occupational health service in police and fire and rescue services look like and what should it include?
CPD activities: Occupational health in police and fire and rescue services
Understand more about what an OH service in the emergency services, including police and fire and rescue, should include.
Justice department to pay out £27,000 after disability ruling
Employment judge Bedeau found Hulya Findik’s claims of discrimination because of a failure in the duty to make reasonable adjustments to be well-founded.
OH service delivery
Why employers must do more to support all four ‘pillars’ of wellbeing
There is still too often a disconnect between how concerned employers say they are about employee health and wellbeing and what they are prepared to do about it – and…
Keep Britain Working: government told it must embrace ‘ambitious reforms’
If the government is serious about stemming the flow of those suffering with ill health from leaving the labour market, it will need to embrace ‘ambitious reforms’, a think thank…
Keep Britain Working review urging employers to ‘tell us what works’
The Mayfield review is urging employers and workplace health professionals to engage with it about what works and doesn’t work when it comes to healthcare interventions.
Return to work and rehabilitation
Uncertainty over law hampering legal use of medical cannabis
A growing number of UK employees are now legally using medical cannabis to manage conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety and symptoms connected to the menopause, a study has suggested.…
Employers ‘worryingly’ ignorant about stress risk assessments
Employer awareness, understanding and compliance with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stress risk assessment requirements remains “worryingly” low, a poll has found. The survey by Occupational Health Assessment of 115…
Data highlights positive link between group income support and return to work
Nearly three-quarters of workers (72%) who had to take time off for illness last year but were also working for an employer offering group income support, managed successfully to return…
Sickness and absence management
Uncertainty over law hampering legal use of medical cannabis
A growing number of UK employees are now legally using medical cannabis to manage conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety and symptoms connected to the menopause, a study has suggested.…
Employers ‘worryingly’ ignorant about stress risk assessments
Employer awareness, understanding and compliance with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stress risk assessment requirements remains “worryingly” low, a poll has found. The survey by Occupational Health Assessment of 115…
Four ways employers can reduce the risk of an always-on work environment
With hybrid working and technology blurring the boundaries between home and work-life as never before, it is vital employers – and managers and HR – take the lead in ensuring…
Wellbeing and health promotion
Uncertainty over law hampering legal use of medical cannabis
A growing number of UK employees are now legally using medical cannabis to manage conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety and symptoms connected to the menopause, a study has suggested.…
Employers ‘worryingly’ ignorant about stress risk assessments
Employer awareness, understanding and compliance with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) stress risk assessment requirements remains “worryingly” low, a poll has found. The survey by Occupational Health Assessment of 115…
Awareness weeks fuel spike in demand for mental health support
Demand from employees for support around mental ill health rose by 10% in the weeks following Mental Health Awareness Week last year and in 2023, research has found. With this…