With World Mental Health Day taking place on 10 October, now is an ideal time for employers to review their approach to supporting employee mental health, focusing on creating a culture of prevention before people reach crisis point.
By Sam Downie, Mates in Mind on 02 October 2025
Drug and alcohol testing can be an effective way of preventing substance misuse causing safety problems at work, but it’s vital to provide education and support so employees understand the dangers substance misuse poses to their own health and to the safety of colleagues and the public.
By Jordan Reid, Randox Testing Services on 01 October 2025
Look through recent reports and you will find a stack of stats behind the rise in stress among UK school teachers, from worsening pupil behaviour to teachers reporting chronic overwork.
By Belinda Liversedge on 06 October 2025
With a record 2.8 million people in the UK out of work due to long-term sickness, a spotlight is shining on the health of the nation and how to improve it. What more could, or should, employers be doing to keep workers healthy and prevent them from leaving the workforce?
By Kerry Reals on 11 March 2025
The Health and Safety Executive is currently conducting an inspection programme looking at the adequacy of employers’ noise control measures, while changes to how compensation claims for noise-induced hearing loss are assessed are predicted to result in higher payouts for affected workers. As a result, it is crucial employers review their noise risk reduction approach to ensure it reflects current best practice.
By Peter Wilson, INVC on 07 March 2025
The free-to-attend Health & Safety Event returns to the NEC in Birmingham on 8–10 April 2025, providing a superb opportunity for occupational health and safety (OSH) practitioners to access the latest products and solutions and expand their knowledge and expertise.
By Safety Management on 05 March 2025
Conventional noise control techniques for plant and machinery incorporate considerable embodied carbon due to the volume and types of materials used – and often result in higher energy demand due to problems like an increased need for cooling fans. However, adopting modern analysis and engineering processes means the costs and carbon footprints of typical noise control projects can be cut by up to 90 per cent.
By Peter Wilson, INVC on 05 March 2025
Workplace campaigns and activities aimed at supporting employees to quit smoking and vaping not only boost the health and wellbeing of individuals, they also bring business benefits in the form of reduced absenteeism and healthier, more productive staff.
By Paul Baker, Allen Carr's Easyway on 03 March 2025
The energy sector’s transition to net zero carbon emissions means a rapidly expanding workforce and the creation of new safety hazards and risks. However, energy company SSE is seeking to reinforce and strengthen its safety culture during the move to clean power by putting thousands of employees and contract partners through an immersive training programme designed to convince workers that safety is everyone’s responsibility.
By Mark Patterson, SSE on 28 February 2025
High noise levels in buildings can have a negative impact on workers’ performance and sense of wellbeing and make it harder to hear safety warning sounds and announcements. However, software is available and constantly evolving that can help designers of buildings achieve good acoustic conditions and acoustic comfort.
By Dr Thomas Judd and Stefan Welgard, SoundPLAN on 28 February 2025
Building Information Modelling has traditionally been used to develop and share digital information, plans and 3D models for the efficient design and construction of buildings and other physical assets, but it also holds huge promise for ensuring the safety of construction projects, from the design phase through to the management of the build itself.
By Manuel Tender, Digital4OSH on 07 February 2025
Employee expectations around the nature and organisation of office, home and hybrid working have changed significantly in recent years, making it more important than ever for employers to rethink and update their approaches to flexible working, ergonomics and workplace design, to better support employee wellbeing, motivation and job satisfaction.
By Guy Osmond, Osmond Ergonomics and Alex Reffell, Osmond Inclusive Wellbeing Services on 04 February 2025
Flexible working has been shown to offer numerous benefits, from improved employee wellbeing to greater productivity. But the rapidly changing nature of work in a digital age means employers need to take a strategic, joined-up approach when implementing flexible working practices, if they are to fully realise the benefits.
By Andy Lake, Flexibility.co.uk on 04 February 2025
