Construction sites across Great Britain are being targeted as part of a health inspection initiative supported by the 'Work Right Construction: Your health. Your future' campaign, raising awareness of health issues in relation to moving and handling materials.
Starting on Monday 3 October 2022, site inspections will be checking employers and workers know the risks, plan their work and are using sensible control measures to protect workers from injuries and aches, pain and discomfort in joints, muscles and bones known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
An estimated 40,000 construction workers suffered work-related MSDs last year.
These injuries can have a serious impact on workers’ ability to perform tasks; their quality of life; and in some cases, their ability to stay in work and earn a living. Many can and do suffer from long-term pain and discomfort.
Act now to protect construction workers’ health. We have advice for employers, workers and small builders.
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Every year, around 12,000 people die from work-related lung diseases linked to past exposure to hazardous substances at work in Great Britain.
This includes the inhalation of respirable crystalline silica (RCS), or silica dust, which can be created through manufacturing processes. Brick and tile manufacture, ceramics, stone working, manufacture of kitchen worktops, and foundry work can all produce silica particles in airborne dust which are too small to be seen. By breathing it in, you and your workers could develop lung diseases such as silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
From October, HSE Inspectors will be visiting manufacturing business where materials such as stone, rocks, sand and clay are used to ensure workers’ respiratory health is being protected from RCS.
View our refreshed silica guidance for manufacturing and foundries to ensure you are protecting your workers’ health:
Tackling stress isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a legal obligation. Working Minds can help you make it a routine priority for your business.
There are three main reasons employers should be looking to prevent stress and support good mental health in business:
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It's the law
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It’s good for business
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It’s the right thing to do.
The legal side: whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, the law requires all employers to prevent work related stress to support good mental health in the workplace.
The bottom line: according to Deloitte’s refreshed case for investment, employers investing in mental health get an average return of £5 for every £1 spent. If you don’t do anything about it, it will cost you. That cost might be in productivity, sickness absence, or even losing a valued member of the team if they’re not able to stay in work. In financial terms, it’s estimated that the cost of poor mental health has increased by 25% since 2019.
The right thing to do: every one of us face pressures in and out of the workplace. By treating each other with respect and compassion at work we support our teams and colleagues to stay well.
The key is prevention, the earlier a problem is tackled the less impact it will have for the person and your business. You can get started today with five simple steps.
Find out more about the Working Minds campaign.
Get the latest updates on HSE's campaigns and stay in touch with the latest health and safety news in topics and sectors of your interest.
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