the heart of health and safety

Occupational Safety and Health : Setting comprehensive robust standards and measures to implement a safe and healthful workplace. Dr Karen McDonnell CFIOSH IOSH President

About IOSH Chartered body for H&S professionals and NGO Over 45,000 members in more than 120 countries 16 Special Interest Groups including: Aviation and Aerospace Environment and Waste Management Food and Drink Hazardous Industries Vision: “A world of work, which is safe, healthy and sustainable”

Occupational health in the UK An estimated 1.2 million people who worked in 2014/15 were suffering from an illness they believed was caused or made worse by work. Around 80% of the new work-related conditions in 2014/15 were musculoskeletal disorders or stress, depression or anxiety (LFS) 23.3 million days were lost due to work-related ill health (LFS)

and globally…. Only a small minority of the global workforce has access to occupational health services 160 million people affected by occupational disease 15% of workers worldwide have access to specialised occupational health services

What is occupational health? ‘the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations by preventing departures from health. controlling risks and the adaptation of work to people, and people to their jobs. (ILO / WHO 1950)

Why managing health at work is harder than safety… Complex Acute or chronic reaction to exposure Each person is an individual

Occupational health risks Stress related disorders Occupational cancer Hearing loss Occupational disease Ageing Musculoskeletal disorders Respiratory diseases Circulatory diseases

Examples of health risks by occupation Health care worker- Blood-borne virus, violence, stress, fatigue, occupational asthma Office worker- Musculoskeletal disorders, stress Miner- Vibration white finger, dermatitis, noise induced hearing loss, silicosis, lung cancers

Impact of work related ill health on business Impact of work-related ill health Risk of civil, criminal or enforcement action Wasted resources and increased overhead costs Poor publicity, low morale Staff turnover increases Customer satisfaction rates fall due to missed deadline Higher insurance premiums

Future challenges - UK an ageing workforce, technological advances, globalisation economic uncertainty.

MATEs in construction Australia The problem MATEs in construction programme Construction workers are six times more likely to die by suicide than through a workplace accident! Mental health on construction sites is now accepted as an industry safety concern

IOSH research programme 2016 Health and wellbeing - What are the key elements of successful interventions - What are the most effective ways to manage mental health and chronic health conditions - How to manage return to work and re-deployment following long term sick leave.

IOSH’s Occupational health research

IOSH’s guidance on occupational health New guide being launched in 2016

No Time to Lose: campaign on occupational cancer

Healthy working lives

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