Ergonomics

Fresh guidance from the HSE on protecting remote workers during the pandemic

Musculoskeletal harm now accounts for 27 per cent of all work-related disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost in New Zealand, according to a report from the country’s health and safety regulator, WorkSafe. A DALY is defined by the World Health Organization as one lost “healthy” life year.

A new resource for employers to help promote workplace dialogue about musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) has been published by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). 

Costain-Skanska JV’s work on the High Speed 2 rail link’s central London site has changed perceptions on sensitively delivering urban archaeology projects while pleasing two disparate professions.

 Safety & Health Expo is delighted to present its line-up of inspirational speakers set to entertain and inform at ExCeL London next week, on 18-20 June.

Safety & Health Expo 2019, the UK’s biggest event for health and safety professionals, opens its doors next week at ExCeL London, from 18-20 June for three days of product launches, business, learning and networking.

Sponsors are being sought to co-fund two shared research projects, which will help the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) improve the use of remote inspection technologies and increase take-up of wearables in the workplace.

Vicky Ford, the MP for Chelmsford, has proposed a new bill that would amend the UK Building Regulations to prohibit developers from constructing "swathes" of properties with letterboxes at the bottom of their front doors. Speaking in the House of Commons, Ford said: "Back injury is the primary cause of sickness in Royal Mail. Royal Mail has introduced better trolleys and training schemes to improve how staff lift, but despite this, last year it recorded over 16,800 back-related absence spells.

The south Cumbrian council says it is phasing out 55-litre boxes, which are used for paper, card and glass, and will supply 44-litre containers when households request replacements for damaged or broken boxes. The local authority has said the switch to lighter bins is designed to limit the risk of back injuries to its kerbside teams who operate an alternate weekly collection.

Toyota Motor Europe's specialist in health, safety and ergonomics, Stuart Bassford, recognises the pressure car assembly line workers are under if components do not fit smoothly into place. All the company's plants follow the Toyota Production System, which uses lean manufacturing principles. Fundamental to this system is having a workforce of flexible, skilled and healthy operatives.With many operatives working to as little as a 66-second "takt time" - the time between starting to build one unit and the next - the slightest delay can have repercussions along the line.