The first half of 2022 has flown by and it’s been a busy quarter for health and wellbeing. Here are some of our highlights from Q2.HSE new 10-year strategy reflects HSE’s role at its broadest. A role that goes beyond worker protection, to include public safety assurance on a range of issues. The first objective on their list is to: “Reduce work-related ill health, with a specific focus on mental health and stress.”
Law changes on fit notes: new legislation, coming into force on 1 July 2022, will allow a wider group of registered health professionals to be able to certify and issue “fit notes”. This will include occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, and pharmacists. The legislative change is intended to reduce pressures on doctors. Whilst this is widely supported, the Society of Occupational Medicine is calling for more training to be provided and to ensure Occupational Health is involved. For more info on fit notes check out the SOM podcast here.
The Daily Mail claimed builders had gone “woke” in a recent story because they spoke about their feelings. Construction workers at Hinkley Point C pushed back on the fact that with the highest suicide rates in their occupational that they are looking after their mental health – the video is worth a watch.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – has released new guidelines on how to create the right conditions for mental wellbeing at work. It aims to promote a supportive and inclusive work environment, including training and support for managers and helping people who have or are at risk of poor mental health available here.
Gallup (a global analytics and advice firm) has released their “state of the global workplace report 2022” – and identified that only 33% of the employees across the world are thriving with stress being at an all-time high. Download the full report here. Gallup is one to follow at CHW we regularly reference their five essential elements to wellbeing.
Occupational Health Awareness Week took place 19th– 24th June and aimed to raise awareness of the benefits of Occupational Health, we did a summary blog post here.
We hope you found this round-up useful. To learn more about Health & Wellbeing within the construction industry, and how to take better care of your workforce, check out our other blogs here.
