29 September 2004 - Two New Research Reports by HSE Dealing With Occupational Health and SME's and of Manual Handling Problems in Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises
RR257: Occupational Health and SME's: Focused Intervention Strategies.
It is a concern of the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE) that Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Occupational Health
is not given its deserved attention, which prompts the HSE to look at the
best way in which it can initiate improvements in good occupational health
practices.
Three areas within the HSE study, physiological models of behaviour change,
organisational and social characteristics of SMEs and the potential for
incentives to achieve change were examined.
The manager is a key influence, as he acts, according to the study, as a "gatekeeper"
to controlling change, therefore must be included to the success of any
intervention, being a key person.
The effective use of complimentary interventions should include attempted
direct influence on the workforce to create change from the gamekeeper, by
means of upward pressure, as each intervention should compensate for the
shortcomings of others, which would help the desired change to be
successful.
An Interventions Set, included in the study, is a development which assists
the assessing of a proposed intervention strategy. This Attribute Set
provides complimentary interventions strategies in order that they may be
effective.
The research report can be found by clicking the following link: RR257 - Occupational health and SMEs: Focused intervention strategies
RR269: Defining the Extent and Source of Manual Handling Problems in Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises
A study has been completed into the source
and extent of manual handling problems in agricultural and horticultural
enterprises, which this research report highlights.
A wide range of enterprises were visited, some small and some large, of
which a small sample were looked at for identification of typical manual
handling tasks, which occur within the industry now.
Farmers and growers were consulted. This made it possible to observe
improvements to benefit a risk reduction in injury from manual handling
tasks. It gave the farmers and growers the opportunity to record any
concerns they still had and limitations which may restrict any further
improvements.
The research report can be found by clicking the following link: RR269 - Defining the extent and source of manual handling problems in agricultural and horticultural enterprises
Article by Alexandra Johnston
