Hot Topics in Health & Social Care

1. Hot Topicsin Health & Social Care Amanda James HM Inspector Health and Safety

2. Outline • Introduction – latest statistics • Hot Topics and HSE’s Work Activities • A forward look

3. The statistics for 2007/08 • Ill health - 2.1 million people were suffering from work related illnesses • Injuries - Over 136,000 workers suffered injuries such as amputations, burns or fractures • Working days lost - 34 million working days were lost in GB due to injury and ill-health • Fatalities - 229 people were killed at work • Enforcement - 1028 offences were prosecuted by HSE, 354 offences were prosecuted by local authorities. • Health & Social Work – Labour Force Survey 07/08 estimates 4910 WR illnesses per 100,000 employees last 12 months

4. Current Risk Topics • Stress • Needle sticks • Violence and aggression • Manual handling • Slips, trips and falls • Dermatitis

5. Work Related Stress • 2007 – 2008 HSE inspections of target sectors; further and higher education, health and local authorities. • 146 health sector and 138 Local authority inspections/audits on stress.

6. HSE Stress Inspection Tool Assessment StagesNumber of Organisations HealthLA 0. Yet to get started 23 21 • Set up 34 20 • Data gathering 43 35 • Solution development 17 10 • Action planning 9 19 • Implementation 20 33 Total 146 138

7. Enforcement • Hot off the press – first improvement notice served on NHS Trust for stress risk assessment as part of this campaign

8. Needle sticks • NHS Employers report approximately 40,000 needle stick injuries per annum • 2006/07 = 3 needle related occupationally acquired diseases, 2007/08 = 0 • EC planning to introduce legislation • HSE Field Operations Division are considering fresh initiatives

9. Violence and Aggression 2006/07 – 169 Major and 1607 over 3 day RIDDOR reports related to violence in health care.

10. Manual Handling and MSDs. Electric Profiling Beds (EPBs) • Awareness raising e.g. NHS conferences • Sign up from Welsh Trusts and NHS Employers England • Ongoing research and evaluation • Developing our 4 year plan

11. Manual Handling Risks to patients 5 Yrs: approx 150 hoist related falls

12. Slips and Trips

14. Alison’s 32nd operation

15. Dermatitis • 2004-08 147 cases of dermatitis reported by just under 70 Trusts. • EPIDERM 2006/7 – approx. 1000 nurses develop WR contact dermatitis each year • Latex/dermatitis inspections

16. Into the Future • New HSE Strategy • Continued partnership working • Corporate Manslaughter Act

17. Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 • Was the victim an employee of the organisation or otherwise working for the organisation or performing services for it? • Was the death connected with premises occupied by the organisation? • Does the death relate to any activity pursued by the organisation including goods or services, construction and maintenance, storage of plant, equipment, materials etc.? • Did senior management failures result in a gross breach of the relevant duty of care which caused the death? = Potential Corporate Liability

18. The New HSE Strategy • Launch and consultation in December • Clarify roles and emphasise leadership • Proportionate approach to risk profile • Clear worker involvement and consultation

19. The New HSE Strategy • Regain widespread commitment and recognition of what real health and safety is about • Encourage and motivate all those in the health and safety system • Resume the reduction in the number of accidents and cases of ill health • Ensure that those who breach or ignore health and safety duties are appropriately held to account.

20. Thank You. Amanda.james@hse.gsi.gov.uk