Sickness Absence Good Practice and Disability Discrimination Act

(01/02/2008) positive sickness absence policy can help to pinpoint work-related issues such as health and safety risks, stress and bullying. It can tackle those organisational issues that can give rise to absence and provide support to promote staff attendance through positive interventions, which can have a significant effect on reducing absence. It must be linked to return to work policies and rehabilitation policies. But this is just not happening. Britain is certainly lagging behind many other countries when it comes to rehabilitation. Within Scandinavia 50% of people return to work after a major injury. In the USA it is roughly a third. In the UK the figure is 1 in 6. UNISON just published a report called: Making us Better. Sickness Absence Agreements: A Guide for Branches and Safety Representatives. It is a source of information and negotiating advice. It emphasises that sickness and safety are linked and that safety reps should be involved in the development of absence management policies.

Slips and Trips in Higher Education

(09/02/2007) This bulletin provides information on a current Health and Safety Executive campaign to reduce the number of slip and trip accidents in schools, colleges, universities and other education settings.

Health and Safety in HE Bulletin

(23/10/06) This bulletin provides information on the latest Health and Safety developments relevant to the Higher Education sector. There is information about stress, fire regs and occupational health.


Higher Education Bulletin on Health and Safety

New Fire Regs

(16/09/06) The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) comes into force on October 1st. Please note the new Fire Safety Order does NOT apply to Scotland or Northern Ireland, though similar arrangements may eventually be in place. The FSO can be dowloaded from the link below

Landmark Decision on Bullying and Harassment

(14/08/2006) A landmark decision by the House of Lords that will give extra protection to staff being bullied at work was welcomed by trade unions. In the case, brought by a health policy researcher working for Guys and St Thomas' NHS Trust, the court ruled that the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, originally introduced to deal with stalkers, also applies to harassment and bullying at work. The victim had successfully showed that he had suffered persistent homophobic bullying from his manager.

Young Workers and Health and Safety

(20/09/06) This year European Health and Safety Week takes place from 23 October 2006 and is dedicated to young people. UNISON will be campaigning and organising around young workers health and safety, and in particular bullying and harassment.

How to Tackle Bullying and Harassment in Higher Education

(29/09/2006)This project has been set up by the ECU in partnership with a number of trade unions and the funding councils of England and Wales. It is tasked with addressing the issues of bullying and harassment, in order to promote dignity at work, specifically in the Higher Education sector. The project will run for 9 months, starting in March and finishing in November 2006.

Why Health and Safety Matters in Higher Education

(31/08/2006) Workers should not run the risk of being injured, or becoming ill because of their work; but unfortunately this is the daily risk that many face. Often the cause is the failure by their employers to implement simple but effective policies and procedures.

Landmark Bullying Case Welcomed

(14/08/2006)A landmark decision by the House of Lords that will give extra protection to staff being bullied at work was welcomed by trade unions. In the case, brought by a health policy researcher working for Guys and St Thomas' NHS Trust, the court ruled that the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, originally introduced to deal with stalkers, also applies to harassment and bullying at work.

Management of Stress At Work

(10/06/2006)(10/06/2006) The management of stress in the workplace is now recognised as an issue for all staff working in the Higher Education sector. UCEA has produced a guidance booklet and CD Rom which aims to support the HE sector in handling this issue.