Is there enough ‘health’ in ‘health and safety’?

And I do wonder if a bag of peanuts really has to have a warning of, ‘may contain nuts’ emblazoned on the side.  

But we should face up to the fact that ours is a sector where health and safety is important.  Fortunately, I believe that most employers take safety in the workplace really seriously.  Whilst there are still accidents, for the most part our workplaces are safe and good places to work.  As a sector we have very much internalised risk management and it is now part of normal everyday workplace behaviour.  But the ‘S’ is only half of the ‘Health and Safety’ issue.

I wonder if yet more can be done by employers to support the health of their workforce.

Employers have both a legal and moral obligation to ensure that working practices do not cause ill-health.  In particular, I have had some interaction with the British Occupational Hygiene Society’s Breathe Freely campaign.  Working predominantly in the construction and manufacturing sectors, the BOHS is looking to have employers introduce measures to protect their staff from harmful emissions which can result in lung disease and other similar conditions.

But there is also a pay back to employers in the reduced absenteeism, higher productivity and a better approach to work which comes from healthier staff.

And whilst we as a sector probably do not share many of the challenges faced in construction and manufacturing, one thing that has really got my interest in recent weeks has been the massive impact of sleep deprivation.  

When you’re awake for 19 hours your mental function is as affected as when you’re drunk.  

If you drive a car having had less than 5 hours sleep you are 4.3 times more likely to be involved in a crash.  Drive after only four hours and you’re 11.5 times more likely to be in an accident.

After just one night of only 4-5 hours of sleep the cells that attack cancer cells drop by 70%.

An adult sleeping less than 7 hours a night would live only to their early 60s without medical intervention.

In our work environments, data such as the above matters.  So I wonder what we can do to support employees get the sleep that they need, and if it comes to it, how can we force them to sleep to be ready for work? 

We have random drugs and alcohol testing in workplaces, but how do we ensure that the workforce is appropriately rested?  It feels like the beginning of a great business idea to me!

David Coombes, Founder and Managing Director of Logistics Job Shop

Follow David on Twitter @DavidCoombesSfL