IOSH NEWS

CORONAVIRUS Seven ways to protect travelling employees

In response to the

recent coronavirus outbreak, IOSH has highlighted key steps that employers can take to manage the health, safety and wellbeing of travelling staff.

1Ensure robust policies, procedures and controls are in place. And communicate them to all relevant parts of your organisation, providing training as appropriate.

2Consider if travel is absolutely necessary. Can you achieve the same result with video conferencing and spare the organisation and traveller the risk, time, cost and environmental impact? PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK 3 If travel is necessary, carry out a travel risk assessment. This should incorporate not only the travel, accommodation and work itself but the traveller’s physical and mental capabilities.

4Know where your employees are and where they’re going. Some travel management systems offer tracking and alert functions, while there are products and apps that use GPS to provide live location tracking.

5Have a travel assistance scheme. Should an employee become involved in an incident or emergency situation, you need to provide support. Most schemes and business travel insurance packages offer a 24/7 helpline that triggers assistance with medical treatment, repatriation and lost or stolen money and documents.

6Provide information, instruction and training to travellers. The risk assessment process should establish the type and extent of the relevant guidance that’s needed.

7Keep wellbeing in mind. Frequent international travel has been shown to have negative effects on both physical and mental health, with situations such as disease outbreak causing added concern among travellers. Help staff to stay healthy, balancing work with rest.

For real-time updates on coronavirus, go to bit.ly/covid-map

RESEARCH ROUND-UP

Firefighter study links back pain to insomnia

Lower back pain exacerbated by challenging working conditions could be a signifi cant cause of insomnia among fi refi ghters, new research suggests.

The study, by researchers at Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in Iran and published by IOSH’s journal Policy and Practice in Health and Safety, examined the prevalence of

musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in fi refi ghters and its relationship with severity of insomnia. A total of 118 fi refi ghters were asked to fi ll in a questionnaire.

The study found that MSDs were present in over half of the participants, with lower back pain the most common complaint (30.5%).

One in fi ve of the fi refi ghters assessed had subclinical insomnia too, with 30% of them experiencing moderate to severe insomnia. The fi ndings come as an estimated 498,000 British workers suffered from MSDs caused, or made worse, by their current or past work in 2018-19, according to the UK Health and Safety Executive. Researcher Dr Zohreh Yazdi said the results highlight ‘the need for preventive activities to better protect the occupational health of this vulnerable group’.

View the paper at bit.ly/PPHS-Yazdi and access IOSH resources

for MSDs at iosh.com/ MSD-toolkit

EYES ON EVENTS

Conference success in Lagos

43 seconds

Global research estimates that one person dies on average every 43 seconds from a work-related cancer – that’s around 742,000 deaths a year.

WHAT? Shaping the Future of Occupational Safety and Health in Africa – IOSH’s fi rst conference in West Africa – took place in Lagos, Nigeria, in January. WHO? The event was organised in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Lagos State Safety Commission. Speakers included IOSH chief executive Bev Messinger and vice president Kayode Fowode, director general of the Lagos State Safety Commission Lanre Mojola, and representatives from the Nigerian Insurers Association and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria. WHY? The conference was designed to build safety and health competencies and capabilities in Nigeria. HOW MANY? The conference welcomed nearly 1000 delegates, while coverage of the event across 21 media outlets reached an audience of at least 18 million and generated over 37,000 organic impressions on the IOSH Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn channels. WHAT WAS LAUNCHED? The NCFE IOSH Level 3 certifi cate in Safety and Health for Business and the No Time to Lose campaign tackling occupational cancer, which gained the backing of nine organisations across West Africa. WHAT’S NEXT? IOSH is set to visit Ghana later this year to develop links and build a new network.

bit.ly/IOSH-conference-Nigeria

No time for cancer

Employers, OSH professionals and others showed their support for World Cancer Day in February.

IOSH’s No Time to Lose campaign, which raises awareness of occupational cancer, ran a dedicated webpage offering downloads and free resources to help businesses manage dangerous carcinogens including asbestos, silica dust, diesel engine exhaust emissions and solar radiation.

The campaign reached more than 377,000 people via social media channels, while over 600 resources were downloaded.

bit.ly/NTTL-get-involved

ISSA meeting on prevention

WHAT HAPPENED? Two days of meetings in February, hosted by IOSH in its role leading the education and training section of the International Social Security Association (ISSA). WHAT’S ISSA? Based in Geneva, the world’s leading body for social security institutions, government departments and agencies has 330 member organisations in 158 countries. WHO WAS THERE? Martina Hesse-Spotter, chair of the ISSA Special Committee, led the meeting. It was also attended by ISSA secretary general Dr Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano. Delegates came from industries spanning education to agriculture, and mining to transport. WHAT WAS DISCUSSED? Prevention, IOSH’s WORK 2022 strategy and ISSA’s Vision Zero campaign. IOSH head of strategic engagement Alan Stevens said the meeting was ‘an excellent example of how we’re collaborating with international organisations to achieve healthier, safer workplaces for everyone’.

TRAILING TRAINING FIRST SHE APPRENTICES SET TO PASS

The fi rst cohort of safety, health and environment (SHE) technician apprentices is soon to complete the programme. WHAT IT IS: The Level 3 apprenticeship was developed by a ‘trailblazer’ group of employers over an 18-month consultation with IOSH. This was to ensure learners gain the relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours required for technical membership of the Institution. WHAT ELSE: The apprenticeship typically lasts for two years, offering prospective learners up to £5000 in funding. WHAT ONE APPRENTICE SAID: ‘I would really recommend the apprenticeship, because of the level of support I receive from my tutors, as well as the knowledge and the tools to get you to where you need to be’ – Leon Axisa.

Watch their journeys at bit.ly/1st-SHE-apprentices

CSCS APPROVAL FOR IOSH COURSE

An IOSH-designed training course for construction workers has been approved by the Construction Skills Certifi cation Scheme. COURSE AIMS: ‘Safety, Health and Environment for Construction Workers’ was developed to equip employees with knowledge to keep themselves and others safe at work. With CSCS approval, the course can now support workers in applying for the Green Labourer card that allows them to work on sites in entry-level positions. It can be delivered in one day and tailored to suit the needs of an organisation. COURSE CONTENT: Health and safety issues, local law, risk assessments and method statements, site requirements, hazards and controls, and site environmental management.

See more at bit.ly/IOSH-CSCS or contact courses@iosh.com