How changes in demography and employment patterns impact on occupational ill health; How such health challenges might be addressed

Occupational HealthOccupational Health

• The branch of medicine concerned with health problems caused by or manifest by work

• The norm is to concentrate on the physical, chemical and biological hazards

• Ergonomic (Psychosocial) not as easily discernible (Walker v Northumberland CC [1995] IRLR 35

What the research has shownWhat the research has shown

• Ill health being caused by

- Changes in demography ; older workforce, migrant workers, more women in workforce

- Changes in employment patterns – what are these?

Triggering Factors include Triggering Factors include

• changes in technology;

• customer tastes;

• competitors’ activities;

• Materials;

• legislation and

• changing economic factors

SMEsSMEs

• Growth in no. of S & MEs

- S & H viewed as a cost & not a benefit

- more fragile financially

- Lack of knowledge & information

- absence of management structures

- difficult for regulatory control

DownsisingDownsising

• operating in a fragmented manner

• management duties are delegated down

• Uncertainty of responsibilities

• No safety & health specialist

• Competition for resources resulting in employees health being compromised.

Contractors / OutsourcingContractors / Outsourcing

• larger organisations issuing contracts for tasks such as maintenance and other core functions

• this can create uncertainty about issues relating to responsibility for undertaking risk assessment, training, and provision of information to workers etc.

The service sectorThe service sector

•  A considerable number of workers are now employed in this sector

• more staff work away from a fixed workplace

• No safety culture and such workers are deprived of useful health and safety information from enforcing authorities

• High incidence of violence & assaults

Precarious employmentPrecarious employment

• part time, fixed contract and temporary

- Doing high risk jobs off loaded by larger organisations;

- Non unionised & likely to be less experienced, perform unfamiliar tasks and less familiar with safety and health rules

- self-employed contractors and home based workers fall outside the regulatory protection

Flexible working timeFlexible working time• Flexible working patterns.

• Working at nights or on shift systems

• No S&H training

Information & communication Information & communication technologytechnology

• computer networks, electronic data interchange and the internet has given rise to a new set of electronic business activities

• workers operating computers and related equipment from home and call centers

• ergonomic needs of these workers not addressed

Older WorkforceOlder Workforce

• Overrepresentation of the elderly and under representation of the young.

• Adapt to new organisational practices and new technologies

• Work related distress and cardio vascular disease in middle-aged males

Women in the workforceWomen in the workforce

• Increasing female employees

• More in caring services – stress & violence

• Tools & equipment designed for males

• Sexual harassment & discrimination resulting in stress related disorders

• musculoskeletal problems more prevalent and more severe among women

Migrant workersMigrant workers

• Considerable number in T&T at present

• Cultural background and language

• Understanding of safety & health instruction – stress related problems

• the low paid, insecure and lower niche jobs with poor occupational health practices

Language Problems Language Problems

Door lock Dholak

The way forwardThe way forward

• Collaborative effort by Government & Business

- At National Level

• Updating of legislation and standards.

• Strengthening the role of the regulatory Agency.

• Tripartite collaboration between government, employers and trade unions

• Education, training and information for employers and workers.

• Provision of occupational health services.

• Undertaking of research.

• Development of the registration system for occupational diseases and

• Tax break for Occ. Health initiatives

Action by EnterpriseAction by Enterprise• The adoption of a safety and health management

system and address the following;- risk assessment, training and health surveillance;- management of change when introducing new forms

of working and new technology- management of contractors • training needs of part-time workers, women, older

workers and migrants.

 

QUESTIONS???