Investing in health and well-being - The Health and Safety challenge

E059:06 11 May 2006

Jonathan Rees, Deputy Chief Executive (Policy) of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), today outlined how HSE is addressing the challenges of the government's Health, Work and Well-being strategy.

Speaking at the Health and Well-being at Work conference he said, "More than 35 million days are lost each year to occupational ill-health and injury, costing the economy an estimated £12 billion. Health and safety has a crucial role to play in reducing this enormous burden, preventing work-related illness and injury and improving rehabilitation and return to work support."

The Health, Work and Well-being strategy, launched by the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Health and the Health and Safety Executive, lays out a blueprint for change to create healthier working environments and to ensure people get the help and understanding they need to stay in work if they become ill. The strategy's vision is to gain recognition for the benefits of work to health and well-being.

Jonathan Rees's speech follows the Health Work and Well-being Summit on 3 May when captains of industry, government ministers and other key stakeholders from across the public and private sectors signed a charter committing to deliver a healthier future for working age people.

A key contribution to the strategy is through Workplace Health Connect, a new service for small and medium sized enterprises, delivered in partnership with HSE. It helps achieve the strategy's aims by offering free and impartial advice on occupational health, safety and return to work issues.

Jonathan Rees said: "Workplace ill-health is costing small businesses up to 10% of their total payroll costs, which can put real downward pressure on the bottom line. We launched Workplace Health Connect because we want to help small business stop workers becoming ill at work and to get them back to work as soon as possible if they do. Customer response to the Adviceline is very positive - 93% of those using it were satisfied or very satisfied with the service they received."

As well as providing guidance on a wide range of health and safety issues to help minimise injuries and ill health in the workplace, other HSE contributions to the strategy include:

• Stress Management Standards - help managers reduce levels of work-related stress and sickness absence
• Worker Involvement programme - encouraging participation from everyone involved in a work activity, whether a manager, employee or contractor, in managing the risks associated with it
• Awareness campaigns - following on from Backs! 2005, HSE is launching a follow-up campaign later this year which will focus on the best ways of managing back pain, including the importance of staying active, and staying in work, wherever possible

Jonathan Rees concluded: "The strategy is a crucial part of delivering on the government's commitment to improving the health and well-being of the working age population. This is an ambitious programme that requires sustained commitment, genuine partnership and action by all. A successful strategy will mean more people at work for more of the time, those with health conditions and disabilities able to optimise work opportunities, and reduced health inequalities and social exclusion."

Notes to editors

1. The Health & Well-being at work - Health Promotion and Strategies for Employers conference was held at the CBI Conference Centre in London on 11 May 2006.

2. The Health, Work and Well-being Strategy was launched on October 19 last year and is supported by the Scottish Executive and the Wales Assembly Government. It is led by the new National Director for Health and Work, Dame Carol Black. Its main themes are engaging stakeholders and improving working lives and healthcare for working age people. It lays out a blueprint for change, so that work related illness and accidents can be avoided in the first place, but if not ensures people get fast treatment and that they can access occupational health when it is needed. It also puts the emphasis on creating healthy working environments.

3. Workplace Health Connect is a new service for small and medium sized enterprises, delivered in partnership with HSE. It helps deliver the strategy's aims by offering free and impartial advice on occupational health, safety and return to work issues. In the North East, North West, West Midlands, Greater London and South Wales advisers can also provide problem solving workplace visits. More information on Workplace Health Connect is available at www.workplacehealthconnect.co.uk/

4. Further details of HSE's Stress Management Standards are available at www.hse.gov.uk/stress/standards/index.htm

5. Information on HSE's Worker Involvement Programme is available at www.hse.gov.uk/involvement/index.htm

6. The Health, Work and Well-being strategy could be found at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2005/health_and_wellbeing.pdf and www.dh.gov.uk

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