Health and work: economic and social angles

An economic approach to occupational health creates value by eliminating wasted time, in the forms of avoidable absence and unproductive presence-at-work, that arises from mismanaging health at work.

The social approach to managing employee health embraces twin agendas. One is educating employees about risks to health from work-related hazards. The other is providing hygienic work facilities and promoting healthy, fit and hygienic standards across the workplace.

Legal angle

From a legal perspective, every employer has a responsibility under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for surveillance of occupational health of all employees. This means identifying sources of potential risks to their health and taking reasonable care to prevent ill-health by threats to it.

These Regulations also oblige an employer to appoint a person competent to advise them about occupational health. Registration of our staff with the Health Professions Council is an indicator of our competence to advise appropriately.

Disability and rehabilitation after injury or illness

With special needs of employees (and candidates) with disabilities safeguarded by law, it is legally and economically necesary to make reasonable adjustments for their needs. This is where ergonomics can play a valuable part in pintpinting genuine human needs. And appropriate psychological tools can make the vital difference when you need to get the balance right between safeguarding and enabling employees (or candidates) with dyslexia.

Similar thinking applies in relatin to needs of people returning to work after absence due to illness or injury. We can help you to apply ergonomics to adapt the work environment, physically and with information technology or other aids the challenge .

Competetent to help you manage risks to work-related health

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 oblige every employer to appoint a 'competent person' to advise them on health (and safety) at work. We office this service as an annual contract.

We provide practical help to employers to prevent problems in three areas of work-related health, as well as to resolve any which do occur:

  • chemical and biochemical substances hazardous to health;
  • musculo-skeletal disorders;
  • work-related stress.

That is, whatever level your system of health and safety right now, we are likely to be able to help you to improve it cost-effectively. Through sound applications of psycholgy and ergonomics, coaching or legal compliance.