Don’t neglect mental health

The annual report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) includes statistics for work-related ill health, workplace injuries, working days lost, enforcement action taken, and the associated costs to Great Britain.

The emergence of Covid-19 as a national health issue at the end of final quarter of 2019/20 does not appear to be the main driver of changes seen in the 2019/20 data, although it is possible that Covid-19 may be a contributory factor.

HSE has been at the heart of work across government for getting Great Britain’s workplaces Covid Secure. As part of HSE’s response to Covid-19, it has continued to support the wider health response through working closely with National Public Health Bodies, Local Authorities and local health teams.

Figures show that around 693,000 workers sustained non-fatal injuries in 2019/2020 and 1.6 million workers suffering from work-related ill-health.

The statistics, compiled from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and other sources, illustrate that in Great Britain in the 2019/2020 period there were;

• 111 fatal injuries at work
• 1.6 million working people suffering from a work-related illness
• 38.8 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
• 325 cases were prosecuted and resulted in a conviction. Fines from convictions totalled £35.8 million

In 2019/2020, the estimated economic cost to Great Britain totalled £16.2 billion with 38.8 million working days lost.

In response to the report, Sarah Newton, HSE Chair said: “The Covid pandemic has focussed attention on the health and safety issues people face in the workplace. HSE remains committed to taking action where workers are not protected, to ensure the guidance and assistance we provide for employers in managing risks is the best available, based on the latest evidence and science.

“Although Great Britain continues to be up there with the safest places in the world to work, these figures highlight the scale of the challenge HSE currently faces in making Britain an even healthier and safer place to work, this includes our role in the response to the pandemic to ensure workplaces are Covid Secure.

“We must continue to drive home the importance of managing risk and promoting behaviours to ensure employers work right so that workers are able to go home healthy and safe at the end of each day.”

The full annual injury and ill-health statistics report can be found on HSE’s website – https://bit.ly/3k50Fgt

Covid-secure

The HSE has issued helpful guidance for working with the Covid pandemic – https://bit.ly/2GweJ5d – which covers many areas, one of which is social distancing to make your workplace Covid-secure.

Social distancing means keeping people apart to help reduce the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19). Where possible, you should keep people 2 m apart. If this is not possible, consider additional control measures. In the UK some rules about social distancing may be different in each of the devolved nations. However, HSE regulates in all of these countries. You should check the public health guidance for the country you are in. You must ensure that workers and other people visiting your workplace understand and comply with the measures you put in place.

Social distancing should form part of your business’s risk assessment and is one of the steps needed to make your workplace Covid-secure.

Some of the measures you can put in place to maintain social distancing include:

• using floor tape or paint to mark work areas
• providing signage to remind people to keep a 2m distance
• having people working side-by-side rather than face-to-face
• limiting movement of people:

1. rotating between jobs and equipment
2. using lifts and work vehicles
3. in high-traffic areas like corridors, turnstiles and walkways 
4. allow only essential trips within buildings and between sites

Cleaning

Coronavirus can transfer from people to surfaces. It can be passed on to others who touch the same surfaces. Keeping your workplace clean and frequent handwashing reduces the potential for coronavirus to spread and is a critical part of making and keeping your business ‘Covid-secure’.

Use signs and posters to help your workers practice good handwashing technique and to remind them to catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue or arm and avoid touching their faces.

Provide:

• handwashing facilities with running water, soap and paper towels or hand dryers
• hand sanitiser at locations in addition to washrooms, such as sanitising stations in shops
• hand sanitiser nearby for people getting in and out of vehicles or handling deliveries, if they are unable to wash their hands

When completing your Covid-19 risk assessment, consider if you need to provide additional handwashing facilities so that people can wash their hands frequently.

Consider how often people should wash their hands, depending on where they work and how much contact they have with others. This will also help you to decide if and where you need to provide additional washing facilities.

If you cannot provide additional handwashing facilities, you may need to provide hand sanitiser instead near to frequently used areas.

When you complete your risk assessment, think about:

• providing handwashing facilities at entry/exit points so people can wash their hands when they arrive and leave work – if this is not possible, provide hand sanitiser
• where to have extra handwashing facilities so people can wash their hands frequently
• making sure your handwashing facilities have running water, soap and paper towels or hand dryers
• identifying where extra hand sanitiser points are needed in addition to washing facilities

Stress

Employers have a legal duty to protect employees from stress at work by doing a risk assessment and acting on it. HSE defines stress as ‘the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them’.

Employees feel stress when they can’t cope with pressures and other issues. Employers should match demands to employees’ skills and knowledge. For example, employees can get stressed if they feel they don’t have the skills or time to meet tight deadlines. Providing planning, training and support can reduce pressure and bring stress levels down.

Stress affects people differently – what stresses one person may not affect another. Factors like skills and experience, age or disability may all affect whether an employee can cope.

There are six main areas of work design which can effect stress levels. You should manage these properly. They are demands; control; support; relationships; role and change.

Employers should assess the risks in these areas to manage stress in the workplace.

Stress is not an illness but it can make you ill. Recognising the signs of stress will help employers to take steps to stop, lower and manage stress in their workplace.

The earlier a problem is tackled the less impact it will have. If you think that an employee is having problems, encourage them to talk to someone, whether it’s their line manager, trade union representative, GP or their occupational health team.