Our News

Drug misuse can be a serious problem not only for the misuser but also for the business where they work and, sometimes, for their co-workers. The possession of some drugs is illegal, exposing the misuser to the risk of criminal charges as well as causing harmful effects to their health.

Successfully tackling drug misuse can benefit both your business and your employees. It can directly lead to:

• Cost savings – on the cost of recruiting and training new employees to replace those whose employment might be terminated because of untreated drug misuse;
• Reducing the cost of absenteeism or impaired productivity;
• A more productive environment by offering support to those employees who declare a drug-related problem, thus improving employee morale;
• Reducing the risk of accidents caused by impaired judgement;
• Enhancing the public perception of your organisation as a responsible employer

At Health Business Ltd we can offer routine drug testing as part of a tailored, occupational health programme. For more information, or to book a drugs test call 01254 825600.

According to ACAS, the average worker in the UK is absent from work for 7.4 days per year. This figure varies from one workplace to another but it adds up to an annual cost of £666 per employee. The cost to the UK economy is £10-12 billion a year.

To estimate the real cost of absenteeism exposure, businesses need to think about how they are forced to manage when an employee is away on unplanned absence. Hiring and paying for temporary replacement staff can be costly and challenging in itself, as is the potential threat of missed deadlines (like customer orders) due to a lack of trained, experienced employees.

Absenteeism can also have a significant impact on other areas of the business resulting in lower customer satisfaction levels, lower morale among colleagues expected to take on those extra responsibilities, diminished reputation with customers and potential employees, and even lost business. To read the article in full click here.

We can help you reduce the personal and business costs of sickness absence. Click here for more details.

The benefits of Occupational Health to the BUSINESS include:

• It creates a positive and caring image
• It promotes a safe and healthy work environment
• It improves staff morale
• It can reduce staff turnover
• It can reduce levels of absenteeism
• It can increase productivity
• It can often lead to reduced healthcare/insurance costs
• It can reduce the risk of litigation and employment tribunal costs

The benefits of Occupational Health to the EMPLOYEE include:

• It enhances self-esteem
• It reduces stress
• It improves morale
• It increases job satisfaction
• It improves health
• It improves a sense of well-being

CLICK HERE to find out how you can promote and maintain good health in the workplace

LIVE RIBBLE VALLEY.pdf

Click the above link to find out how Health Business can help you positively manage your health and well-being through our range of personalised health screens.

The New Year is traditionally the time for making lifestyle changes. At Health Business we have a range of health screens which will give you the insight you need to make lasting and life-long change to your health and well-being. Working closely with you, our flexible and tailor-made health screens explore your medical history and your current health and lifestyle choices. We carry out various clinical assessments to spot potential health risk factors and give you the opportunity to raise and discuss any concerns you may have. Our health screens provide an in-depth review of your current health, and give expert, professional advice on what you can do to improve your overall well-being.

Click here for more information on our range of health screens.

Stress is a condition that has become more and more prevalent, exacerbated by the economic crisis. Today’s businesses are under increasing pressure to stretch resources and boost productivity, and this strain is being passed on to employees who are already anxious about budget cuts and the threat of redundancy.

Earlier this year Mind, the mental health charity, released a report claiming that UK businesses could save £8 billion per year if they managed workplace stress properly. The survey also found that 41% of workers experience stress, making it more of a concern than personal finances, health and relationships.

Stress and Long-term absence

Statistics have shown that once an employee is off work for six weeks it is very difficult to get them back into the workplace. Many employees absent with stress are signed off for long periods.  It is essential, therefore, that these situations are managed effectively, or it can result in costly employment tribunal proceedings and/or a claim for personal injury (arising from the physical damage caused to an employee’s health by stress).  This means that staying on top of the situation is essential if you are to protect your business from costly claims and associated negative press and PR.

Stressed employees are neither happy nor productive and the long-term absence that can result is bad for business. Employers, therefore, must take workplace stress seriously or they could be putting at risk both their competitive edge and their best people. 

Health Business Ltd provides a range of Occupational Health services for businesses large and small, that can help reduce the personal and business costs of sickness absence, lost production and personal injury or illness. We can ensure your employees are fit to do the job they are employed for, and put in place strategies that will help you detect adverse health effects and prevent work-related illness. We can help you and your business deal with workplace “issues” like stress. For more information call us today on 01254 825600.

Practice Direction 35 and the Protocol for the Instruction of Experts to give Evidence in Civil Claims make it a mandatory requirement
that expert witnesses are aware of the relevant civil procedure rules. Dr Andrews, Medical Director of Health Business Ltd has obtained the Bond Solon Civil Procedure Rules for Expert Witnesses Certificate to evidence understanding and compliance with the above requirements.

Hand arm vibration can be a health risk wherever powered hand tools are used for significant lengths of time. Health & Safety Executive Good Practice Controls can help eliminate or reduce these risks, and a vital element of an employer’s duty is to provide health surveillance to those employees who are identified as being at risk. At Health Business we can provide HAVs health surveillance and screening (levels 1-4) for those employees exposed to vibration.

• Tier 1: An initial assessment before the employee starts work with vibrating tools
• Tier 2: An annual assessment
• Tier 3: A comprehensive and detailed questionnaire and range of clinical tests for those displaying the appropriate symptoms and history, carried out by our HAVs qualified Occupational Health Doctor
• Tier 4: Formal diagnosis made by our HAVs qualified Occupational Health Doctor, reported by the employer under RIDDOR 1995

To book your HAV’s medical assessment call us on 01254 825600.

We all have a responsibility to support people in the workplace during both good times and bad. With 1 in 6 workers experiencing depression, anxiety or stress, there has never been a better time to start thinking about what you can do to help create an open and supportive workplace. Here’s a couple of steps you can take to support any employees who may be affected:

• Reduce stigma in your organisation – challenge any assumptions that your colleagues hold about mental distress (i.e., people with mental health issues take too much time off work; people suffering from depression aren’t as capable as others)
• Don’t ignore it – whilst you may not understand why someone is suffering from a mental health issue, acknowledge it in a mindful and supportive way

According to MIND, improving and managing mental health in the workplace can help employers save around £300 per employee or around £8 billion a year for British industry as a whole. FTSE 100 companies taking action and reporting on employee health issues outperformed their competitors financially by 10 per cent on average in 2009. To find out more about how you can improve mental health at work, click here.

Findings published in The SME research, conducted by Opinium shows that owners of small businesses in the UK estimate that they collectively lose 63 million days a year through sickness – two thirds of which are during the winter cold and flu season. Small and medium-sized businesses in the UK are set to lose £3.4 billion over the next six months due to staff sickness froms illnesses such as cold and flu, according to research by office supplies company Viking.

The survey also revealed that 52% of all office workers are not aware that bacteria could be lurking on their keyboards, phones and screens. As part of the research, 300 workplace swabs were carried out. Analysis revealed Staphlyococcus, Bacillius and Micrococcus bacteria (indicating a poor level of hygiene) were frequently found on office keyboards. Viking’s hygiene expert Lisa Ackerley, a chartered environmental health practitioner said “This research has shown that there are some very unhygienic desks right now in the UK, which is very worrying. Those who work in open plan offices tend to start coming down with illnesses this time of year. Keeping equipment such as keyboards, phones and desks as germ free as possible is even more important during the cold and flu season”.

To read the article (published in HR Magazine – www.hrmagazine.co.uk) click here.