Health and Safety Update - August 2010

COSHH

The HSE expects to issue a consultation document before September on minor revisions to the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) and guidance on the COSHH Regulations 2002. The new ACoP will come into force on 6 April 2011.

CONSTRUCTION

The HSE construction website has been re-branded to make it easier to navigate with new material added. http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm?ebul=hsegen/01-jun-2010&cr=2

DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES AND CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER

Directors Duties

The steering group which has been advising the HSE executive board in its decision on whether to recommend a legal duty on company directors to protect workers delivered its final report in June. This paves the way for the board to decide whether to recommend a new duty to ministers. Watch this space! http://www.hse.gov.uk/leadership/steering-group-report.pdf Nearly two thirds of in-house lawyers asked in a recent survey whether further duties needed to be placed on directors in order to focus on health and safety considered these are necessary to ensure directors take health and safety law seriously and are needed to protect workers. ELECTRICITY

No specific update

ENVIRONMENTAL

No specific update

FIRE SAFETY

No specific update

FOOD HYGIENE/SAFETY

No specific update

GAS SAFETY

No specific update

ILL HEALTH/STRESS/DISABILITY

Absence or Presence? The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has found that one in four employees work all day without taking a break leading to potentially enormous costs for employers. This increases the risk of chronic musculoskeletal disorders, obesity, cancer, depression, heart disease and stroke through poor working conditions. Although sickness absence already costs businesses an estimated £16bn per year, this does not take into account the problems and potential costs caused by presenteeism. Similarly a survey by the Institute of Leadership & Management found that technology (particularly blackberries and smartphones) is making it more difficult for employees to switch off during their summer break with one in four returning more stressed than when they left. Three surveys in June and July showed different pictures in relation to absence and presence. The annual poll from Unum and EER showed that this year employers gained an average of one extra day of work per employee as a result of lower absence. It considered the introduction of the fit note also reduced absence levels. The annual absence survey by the CBI and Pfizer also found absence was at an all time low. Research by Bupa found that nearly half of workers who were absent continued work in some form including work-related phone calls, working on-line and hosting meetings. In contrast, a European survey found that there had been a rise in sick days during the recession taken for personal reasons rather than illness showing less commitment by employees. Fit or Fake? Employers should be aware that a website is selling fake versions of the new fit note, which came into force in April this year, which it claims can be stamped by doctors from medical centres in any UK city. If employers are suspicious, they should refer the employee for an independent medical check or telephone the doctor's surgery to...