The programme is set for the British Safety Council’s annual conference ‘Health and Safety—What’s Next?’ on Wednesday 23 September 2015 in central London. Health at work is as much in the spotlight as safety, as indicated by the line-up of speakers and presentations across the day.
During the morning Professor Stephen Bevan, Director, Work Foundation’s Health at Work Policy Unit, will provide a keynote address, saying, “Very often physical and mental illnesses go hand-in-hand. We know that comorbidity can increase healthcare costs by up to 45% and that living with both a mental and physical illness can make staying in—or returning to—work, much more difficult to manage. As the workforce ages, healthcare systems, active labour market policy and employment practice will need to adapt to improve the management of employees with multiple health conditions including mental illness.”
Other presentations in relation to health at work include that from Gill Sellars, Health and Safety and HR Director, Unipart Group, Mike Slater, Past-President, The Chartered Society for Worker Health Protection (BOHS) and Birgit Müller, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA).
Neal Stone, acting Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, commented, “Health as much as safety continues to demand the attention of business managers and decision-makers. The numbers we are seeing regarding the cost and impact of sickness absence particularly in relation to musculoskeletal disorders and stress management are a cause for concern. We look to play our role in helping businesses share understanding of what they can do to address these challenges.”
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
