Partnership for better worker health

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) said that without doctors, nurses, health and safety practitioners, HR and managers working in partnership, the UK’s hopes of cutting the 2.2 million who suffer an illness caused or made worse by work will be hampered. Commenting on IOSH’s response to the national director for work and health, Dame Carol Black’s, review into the health of Britain’s working age population, IOSH president Ray Hurst said it was also important government funding was in place, and that there’s a greater push towards ‘worker-friendly’ workplaces. Hurst said: “We’re pleased the government is conducting this review as we believe good work-related health is vital for workers, their families, employers and for the country as a whole. But it’s imperative the relevant professions work together as teams on this and also fully involve workers in the decision-making processes. “The key to reducing illness is protection and prevention, but where illness does develop there has to be access to effective treatment quickly. This needs to be coupled with appropriate rehabilitation provision. That’s why it’s so important for all those professionals working in health-related disciplines to pull together. “In addition to making Britain’s workplaces safer, healthier and more ‘worker-friendly’, we believe employers could use workplaces to offer free information and support, helping to actively promote good health, wellbeing and quality of life to millions of people. “We’re keen that resources and effort are properly focused and we’ve highlighted the importance of using research to find out what works best to promote health, an area we’ve recently commissioned research into. Further government research is needed and we’re calling on them to extend their provision and evaluation of government-funded occupational health services; to provide tax incentives for employer-provided therapies facilitating sustainable rehabilitation for workers; and to pilot awareness training in rehabilitation for OSH practitioners.”