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07/29/2002
UK: TUC reveals how to stop the £14 billion workplace injury drain

There are seven steps which employers should take to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses costing the British economy £14 billion annually, cut the 14.5 million days of sickness absence a year caused by work-related illness and injury, and prevent 27,000 workers leaving the workforce permanently every year because of workplace injury and ill-health, according to TUC research published today (Monday). And the TUC found that even in the workplaces where unions are recognised (generally better than average employers), only one in twelve had achieved best practice on rehabilitation. Two thirds of the businesses surveyed couldn’t even manage good practice. In construction, only one in twelve companies had good practice.

The research, which was funded by the Department of Work and Pensions, asked union reps in 1200 workplaces about what was done for people whose ill-health or injury affected their ability to work, and identified what makes a good rehabilitation and retention system. Nine case studies have been developed (summary attached).

TUC General Secretary John Monks said:

'People at work don’t expect to be injured or made ill by their work, and their bosses don’t intend to hurt them - and thanks to what unions and managers have done in partnership, Britain is one of the safest countries to work in. But when the worst happens, we need to get people back to health and back to work, and Britain isn’t good at that. Rehabilitation is good sense, it’s good business and it’s good for people.'

The Minister for Work, Rt Hon Nick Brown MP, said:

'I warmly welcome this important study of rehabilitation, and am delighted that we were able to support the TUC in carrying it out. It shows that the best results are achieved when employers and employees work together. This message is a valuable contribution to the discussions the TUC, the ABI and the CBI have started. We will be interested to see their conclusions.'

In Rehabilitation and Retention: what works is what matters, the TUC calls on employers to:

    • establish clear policies on rehabilitating their injured workers;
    • separate sickness absence management from disciplinary processes;
    • work with unions and the workforce to develop policies on rehabilitation, and be open about the implementation of those policies;
    • respond actively to sickness absence, by staying in touch with workers off sick and referring them for medical checks early;
    • adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to rehabilitation, involving senior and line managers, personnel and health professionals;
    • making the initial presumption that sickness absence is work-related (and investigating possible causes) unless proved otherwise; and
    • provide access to good occupational health facilities.
Rehabilitation and retention: what works is what matters is available on the TUC website at www.tuc.org.uk. The full report, Rehabilitation and retention: the workplace experience, is also there, and so are the full case studies (Rehabilitation and retention: case studies). The TUC reports will be submitted to an Association of British Insurers consultation exercise, Getting back to work, which was launched in June.

The research also found that:

    • About a third of workplaces surveyed (34%) exhibited good practice on rehabilitation, but only 8% achieved best practice.
    • The main problems likely to affect the ability of employees to carry out their duties were stress (67%), back pain (55%), infections (39%) and RSI (31%) - the first, second and third worst problem were counted for each workplace so the numbers total to more than 100%.
    • The commonest steps which employers are taking to return people to work are phased returns to work (56%), changes to tasks, or work content (54%), changed working hours (44%), visits to keep in touch (39%) and providing training (23%).
Key regional and sectoral statistics are set out on subsequent pages.

Notes to Editors:

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access

pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 8am-10pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.

Contacts:

Media enquiries: 020 7467 1248 or 07699 744115 (pager) or email media@tuc.org.uk

Other enquiries: Owen Tudor, TUC Senior Policy Officer (Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation) on 07788 715261 (mobile) or at otudor@tuc.org.uk

The report author, Lewis Emery, at the LRD, is available for interviews by arrangement through the TUC media office.
For the full report check: http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-5260-f0.cfm




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