Weekly Digest: Health and safety at work guidance and advice

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Weekly Digest eBulletin

Protecting home workers during the pandemic

male worker at desk

The government says you can only leave your home for work if you cannot reasonably work from home.

See the latest guidelines on GOV.UK.

 

It is for an employer to decide whether it is appropriate or possible for people to work from home. These steps include considering those at higher risk from COVID-19, and consulting with their workforce on what jobs they can do at home.

 

If you have people working from home as a result of the pandemic, HSE has advice for employers to protect home workers.

 

You should take every possible step to facilitate your employees working from home, including providing support and suitable equipment to enable remote working. Issues you should consider include:

Read our advice on how to protect home workers.


Mind Your Head - raising awareness of mental health in farming

family of farmers walking through farm

This week HSE is supporting the Mind Your Head campaign, which focuses on prevention and early identification of the potential risks for those living and working in farming in the UK.

According to research carried out by the Farm Safety Foundation, 88% of farmers under 40 now rate poor mental health as the biggest hidden issue faced by farmers (an increase from 81% in 2018).

 

The UK-wide survey of 450 young farmers also revealed that 89% believe that talking about the issue will remove the stigma attached to it.

 

Find out how to start the conversation around work-related stress by downloading our Talking Toolkit, which is available on our stress website.

 

Visit the Mind Your Head website for more information on the campaign. 


COVID-19 guidance and updates

HSE continues to publish the latest coronavirus-related guidance and information, as well as updating previously published content.

For a full range of COVID-related information and advice visit our coronavirus pages. This includes:

  • Risk assessment
    Help with assessing risk and making your workplace COVID-secure

  • RIDDOR reporting of COVID-19
    Guidance on when you should make a RIDDOR report of COVID-19

  • HSE science and research
    How scientific evidence and research on COVID-19 is helping to improve understanding of how to control the risks of virus transmission in workplaces

Recording near misses at work

near miss book

Understanding near misses can help you reduce the risk of accidents.

HSE's newly published 'Near-miss Book' helps employers and employees record details of workplace near misses, providing valuable insight into when and how things go wrong.

 

A pattern of near misses provides an early warning that something needs attention.

 

The Near-miss Book is available to purchase now from HSE Books.


Construction firms fined due to unsafe removal of asbestos

A construction company and a property management company have both been fined after failing to manage asbestos safely during a refurbishment of a former office block in Stockport.

An investigation by HSE found that an asbestos survey identified the presence of asbestos containing materials, but was not passed on by the property management company prior to work being carried out. Read the press release for full details.

 

Other recent press releases include:


Latest jobs at HSE

Develop a career at HSE and help to protect lives. We have some exciting job vacancies currently available.

 

For details of these highlighted opportunities, follow the links below: 

 

View a full list of current vacancies

You can get all the latest news and updates from HSE across a range of industries and topics.

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