Opinion

    Mike Robinson 3 Med

    How can we support our people better in a changing world?

    At the end of November, I had the privilege of presenting top-performing organisations with our prestigious Sword, Globe and Shield of Honour awards, recognising their achievements in health, safety, environmental and wellbeing management. It’s something I relish doing every year, and this time was no exception.

    By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 02 December 2024

    Stressed Worker in Santa Hat iStock Dragos Condrea

    Festive blues – how to support employee mental health

    Although December can be a fun and enjoyable time, challenges both in and outside work can pose difficulties for employee wellbeing, making it essential for employers to provide adequate support.

    By Ruhel Ahmed, Acas on 02 December 2024

    HGV Close Up iStock deepblue4you

    Managing workplace transport and occupational road risks – a perennial challenge

    According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics, 138 workers were killed in work-related accidents in 2023/24, with 25 of those fatalities involving being struck by a moving vehicle in the workplace – a 25 per cent increase on the same figure for 2022/23.

    By Matthew Sulley, Pinsent Masons on 12 November 2024

    Budget Red Box iStock stocknshares

    Can a ‘Budget for working people’ finally ‘Get Britain Working’?

    How many column inches were taken up in the build-up to the Budget wondering who exactly the Government meant by ‘working people’? And now that we know what was in it, does it really matter?

    By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 01 November 2024

    Female Truck Driver iStock solstock

    UK truckers: why more action is needed to make their working lives safer and healthier

    When most people think of safety in road haulage they think about the machinery, but the most important part of our industry has always been the people, in this instance the person behind the wheel.

    By Ashton Cull, Road Haulage Association (RHA) on 01 November 2024

    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