Monday 25 September marks World Lung Day, the international awareness day to help educate and promote lung health.Â
HSE inspectors continue to visit manufacturing businesses where processes use materials that contain silica, a natural substance found in most stone, rocks, sand and clay.
 Exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can occur when these materials are manufactured. RCS causes devastating lung diseases that can cut lives short.   Inspectors will be checking that dutyholders know the risks associated with silica dust and have effective controls in place to keep workers safe and protect their respiratory health.  We have advice for employers and workers to protect respiratory health. You can:   25 September also marks the start of National Inclusion Week 2023 and this yearâs theme is 'take action, make impact'.
This is a prompt for us to reflect on our collective responsibility to create workplaces where individuals are truly supported, valued and empowered. Â
Itâs not always easy recruiting the people you need to help your business succeed. So, keeping and developing talent in your business is important. HSE published non-statutory guidance, a set of simple core principles, to help employers create workplaces that are safe and supportive to enable disabled workers or workers with long-term health conditions to thrive.  Download our Talking Toolkit to help employers and managers structure these conversations. We encourage you to think about your workplace and really consider the support available to colleagues and workers. You can also: |
Tackling economic inactivity due to long-term sickness is a top priority for the government. The Chancellor announced £2 billion at the Spring Budget 2023 to support disabled people and people with health conditions to work, which included a package of two consultations, Tax Incentives for Occupational Health and Occupational Health: Working Better.  The latter consultation is seeking views on proposals aimed at increasing employer use of Occupational Health (OH) Services specifically exploring: - the introduction of a national âhealth at workâ standard to help provide a baseline for quality OH provision including guidance, the option of pursuing accreditation and additional Government-funded support services as well as employer best practice sharing;
- best practice from other countries and other UK-based employer models that enable employers to provide support for their employees; and
- how we develop and support a multidisciplinary workforce in work and health, including expert OH workforce. This will build on our existing work with the OH sector and explore the opportunities this can offer businesses and providers.
The consultation is aimed at employers, OH professionals, OH service providers and service users. Both consultations will together inform potential policy options to enable and encourage employers and OH provision to support individuals to remain and thrive in work.  The consultation is due to close on 12 October 2023.  We value your experience and insight and would appreciate you sharing your perspectives with us as we continue to support occupational health provision in the UK.  Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or comments. | 
