Opinion

    Stressed Man at Laptop iStock

    Regulating mental health and wellbeing: the current picture

    Health and safety law contains detailed rules to regulate the safety of the workforce, across all workplaces, and for specific higher risk activities and industries. These are well enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which has been very successful in driving down the number of fatalities and injuries sustained at work in the UK. The same is not true when it comes to mental health and wellbeing.

    By Katherine Metcalfe, Pinsent Masons on 03 October 2024

    Stressed Out Female Office worker iStock Delmaine Donson

    Supporting employee mental health: what do we need from the Government?

    The newly-elected Labour administration is now more than three months into its tenure. And we know the to-do list of any incoming government is always vast. However, it is imperative within these priorities that there is a clear strategy to support employee mental health.

    By Michael Hough, Mental Health Foundation on 30 September 2024

    Worker in Wheelchair iStock Edwin Tan

    Reasonable adjustments – understanding the cost and benefits

    Although employers may sometimes be worried about the cost and resource implications, reasonable adjustments to support disabled people to thrive at work are often inexpensive and easy to enact – and provide a major boost to staff productivity, engagement and loyalty.

    By Faye Law, Acas on 26 September 2024

    Grenfell Photo By Flickr Chiraljon

    Can Grenfell’s legacy be 1.5 million safe new homes?

    The new UK Government faces major hurdles on a number of fronts – not least the £22 billion ‘black hole’, which leaves little headroom for the Chancellor in her forthcoming Budget.

    By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 26 September 2024

    Happy Woman at Laptop iStock LaylaBird

    Progression, pay and policy: the key to tackling gender inequalities in the workplace

    Business in the Community (BITC) works to create a fairer world to live and work in. We believe gender shouldn’t act as an unfair help or hindrance to someone’s chances of professional or wider life success, but sadly this remains the case in workplaces up and down the country.

    By Charlotte Woodworth, Business in the Community on 24 September 2024

    Asbestos Protection Suit iStock D Keine

    The duty to manage asbestos, the rise in prosecutions and other emerging trends

    In this article, I will explore the impact of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) public awareness campaigns regarding the duty to manage asbestos and consider the resulting rise in prosecutions.

    By Francesca Ledwith, Pinsent Masons on 05 September 2024

    Asbestos Warning iStock Paul D Wade (1)

    Control of Asbestos Regulations: why it’s now time for a review

    Although the UK has a framework for managing asbestos in buildings, a proposed new Asbestos Information Certificate rating dutyholder compliance with the relevant legal duties would place greater emphasis on ensuring building owners are adequately reducing the risk to occupants and tradespeople.

    By Mick Dawson, ATaC on 05 September 2024

    Asbestos Roof Tiles iStock LianeM

    Asbestos: why ‘management in-situ’ is the wrong approach

    The UK has the worst record on mesothelioma deaths (a cancer solely attributed to past asbestos exposure) in the world, primarily because the UK imported more asbestos per capita than any other country.

    By Charles Pickles, Airtight on Asbestos on 05 September 2024

    Engineered Stone Cutting iStock Cagkansayin

    Engineered stone worktops and silicosis: a challenging problem

    The sudden and alarming appearance of silicosis cases among engineered stone workers in the UK, against the backdrop of a ban in Australia and in some US States, has suddenly brought the question of how to regulate for health protection in the workplace to the fore.

    By Kevin Bampton, BOHS on 04 September 2024

    Asbestos Tiles iStock SashaFoxWalters

    Asbestos in schools: we need urgent action now to protect teachers and pupils

    Asbestos was widely used in construction throughout the 20th Century, before finally being banned in 2000 – 50 years after the causal link with lung disease was made.

    By Wayne Bates, NASUWT on 04 September 2024