Diversity - Disability

Health and safety is, on occasions, used as a false excuse to justify discriminating against disabled workers. HSE is committed to tackling this, as we say in our joint statement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The definition we use for disability is taken from the The Disability Discrimination Act. This says that a disability is a physical or mental impairment which has substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. In December 2006, public authorities gained new disability equality duties. How we aim to meet them is set out in our Disability Equality Scheme [PDF 188KB]. This page provides a summary.

Promoting disability equality at work and tackling discrimination

• The HSE has developed and promotes the use of an equality impact assessment tool to mainstream diversity in our day-to-day work. It is designed to help staff identify and minimise any potential issues around equality.
• HSE have launched and promote a communications toolkit which is designed to help HSE staff identify diverse audiences, and to provide practical advice on how best to communicate with them.
• We have updated the operational guidance on the provision of health and safety advice regarding the retention of disabled workers.

Disability and risk assessment

• HSE have developed joint disability and risk assessment guidance with the Equality and Human Rights Commission for use by employers, disabled people and risk assessors, including inspectors.

• Health and safety for disabled people and their employers

• Fire Safety Risk Assessment - Means of Escape for Disabled People (Supplementary Guide)

Improving communications

• HSE have launched and promote a communications toolkit to help HSE staff identify diverse audiences, which is designed to improve guidance on communicating with disabled people.
• We are building our networks with disability groups to secure better involvement of disabled stakeholders in policy development and monitoring.
• HSE's External Diversity Team is working towards improving the diversity of our advisory bodies and stakeholder groups in respect of relevance and representation. We want to ensure disabled people have equal opportunity for articulating their views.
• HSE is able to provide documents in a number of alternative formats on request. For more information please contact HSE Infoline.

Health and wellbeing at work

• We are developing advice for managers on how to help people at work suffering from mental health issues connected with work-related stress and how to help those absent from work with such conditions.

Working together, sharing intelligence and good practice

HSE has an External Diversity Team who are responsible for monitoring progress and providing central support. The External Diversity Team monitor progress against diversity priorities and the annual action plan.

HSE are trying to provide appropriate support if required by building intelligence we can share. If you have any information or research that would help us build our evidence base about health and safety in the workplace in relation to this area, please feel free to send it to us at the following link, diversity@hse.gsi.gov.uk

Disability discrimination

• Health and safety for disabled people and their employers - a web resource providing guidance for disabled people, risk assessors and inspectors on disability and risk assessment.

• Representing & Supporting Members with Mental Health Problems at work - a TUC produced document advising representative on how to support members and tackle discrimination [689KB PDF]

Useful links

• Equality and Human Rights Commission
• Equality and Human Rights Commission for Scotland
• Equality and Human Rights Commission for Wales
• "Ensuring the health and safety of workers with disabilities" - a fact sheet published by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.
• EHRC your rights at work in BSL
• Direct Gov Disability Discrimination Advice

Evidence and research

Here we outline existing research and provide links to view the full reports.

• The extent of use of health and safety requirements as a false excuse for not employing sick or disabled persons
  DRC/HSE-commissioned research that prompted HSE's partnership with the DRC in developing our 2007 joint statement and risk assessment guidance.