What's new at HSE » Infections at work

E.coli 0157: Health Alert - avoiding ill health at open farms

HSE — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:01:01 +0000

Following the recent outbreak of E.coli 0157 linked to a visitor farm attraction in Surrey, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is issuing this alert to remind farmers about the sensible and practical steps they need to take to reduce the risk of ill health to visitors.

Read the E.coli 0157: Health Alert in full

Swine flu - updated

HSE — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:00:40 +0000

General advice for employers for the current situation - employers and employees should always practice good personal hygiene measures – use a disposable tissue to control coughs/sneezes, dispose of it appropriately and wash your hands before eating, drinking etc.

Advice for employers update

HSE Swine flu guidance - updated

HSE — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:15:56 +0000

The advice for employers for the current situation has been updated, including additional information on use of face masks in certain healthcare settings.

View HSE’s swine flu guidance

Legionella in aqueous tunnel washers

HSE — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:30:29 +0000

This SIM highlights the risk of exposure to Legionella from a previously unidentified source, namely aqueous tunnel washers. It details the type of equipment involved in the first known outbreak and outlines key issues that are likely to be applicable in similar plant.

View SIM 030906 - Legionella in aqueous tunnel washers

Swine flu

HSE — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:30:33 +0000

General advice for employers - Employers and employees should practice good personal hygiene measures – use a disposable tissue to control coughs/sneezes, dispose of it appropriately and wash your hands before eating, drinking etc.

Swine flu: General advice for employers

Swine flu

HSE — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:40:22 +0000

HSE has issued information about the emerging new ‘swine’ strain of influenza that has been reported.

View swine flu information

Agriculture health carry card updated

HSE — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:50:33 +0000

This carry card provides information on the health risks associated with your work in agriculture, horticulture and forestry

View Agriculture: Your health carry card [PDF 92KB]

Leptospirosis leaflet updated

HSE — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:10:29 +0000

Two types of leptospirosis infection can affect workers in the UK, Weil’s disease and the Hardjo form of leptospirosis. Anyone who is exposed to rats, rat or cattle urine or to fetal fluids from cattle is at risk.

View the Leptospirosis: Are you at risk leaflet [PDF 96KB]

Occupational and Environmental Exposure of Skin to Chemicals 2009

HSE — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:45:17 +0000

14 – 17 June, University of Edinburgh. The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) is hosting its next international conference sponsored and supported by HSE, aimed at occupational health and safety practitioners and experts in dermal exposure and skin diseases.

View event for further information and booking details

Genetically modified organisms

HSE — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:22 +0000

Lastest update to the public register of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) - notifications of contained use of GMOs.

View the GMO register

HSG262: Managing skin exposure risks at work

HSE — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:34:38 +0000

Many materials used at work can affect the skin or can pass through the skin and cause diseases elsewhere in the body. This book provides practical advice to help you prevent these disabling diseases. It covers, the protective role of the skin, ill health arising from skin exposure, recognising potential skin exposure in your workplace and managing skin exposure to prevent disease.

Find out more about managing skin exposure risks at work

Genetically modified organisms register

HSE — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:48:03 +0000

The Public Register of Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been updated - notifications of contained use of GMOs.

View the GMO register

Taylor Woodrow prosecution highlights construction dangers

HSE — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:01:57 +0000

A fatal incident during the construction of the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff, has prompted HSE to repeat messages about minimising workplace risks to employees and contractors.

Press release - fatal at National Assembly for Wales

Control of legionella - DVD

HSE — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:56:21 +0000

A compilation of guidance films covering the risks of legionella and how they can be minimized.

View the extract from Control of legionella - DVD

Legionella training day

HSE — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:18:32 +0000

This event being hosted by HSE will be held from 9:30 to 16:30 at the Dewar’s Centre, Perth. The aim is to provide awareness training on Legionella for Local Authority, Environmental Health Officers across Scotland.

Legionella training day details

Skin at work advice

HSE — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:02:38 +0000

Work-related skin problems are very common, they can happen in most workplaces although they happen more in certain high risk jobs. Some specific advice has been provided for hairdressers and other high risk jobs.

Skin at work advice for high risk jobs

World COPD Day 2008

HSE — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:45:01 +0000

19 November 2008 - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive, irreversible lung disease which kills about 30,000 people a year in the UK alone. HSE is working in partnership with a range of stakeholders to improve the design, installation and maintenance of local exhaust ventilation systems that help remove airborne contaminants from the workplace before people breathe them in.

Find out more about World COPD day 2008

Biological Monitoring Seminar

HSE — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:21:55 +0000

Society of Chemical Industry, Belgrave Square, London, November 19 – 17:00. Organised by British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) London South and South East region the seminar programme features two presentations:

Evaluating the protective effect of surgical masks against airborne influenza virus
Biological Monitoring for Occupational Hygienists

from the Health and Safety Laboratory, Buxton.

further details on the Biological monitoring seminar

HSE publishes health and safety statistics for 2007/08

HSE — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:35:17 +0000

New statistics published by the HSE today reveal a reduction in the numbers of people killed, injured or made ill by work during 2007/08.

View press release regarding health and safety statistics for 2007/08

Health and safety statistics 2007/8

HSE — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:30:23 +0000

Latest release - health and safety statistics 2007/08 presenting the latest top level statistics on work-related ill health, workplace fatalities and injuries, and enforcement in Great Britain.

Health and safety statistics 2007/8