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Building Trade Associations and Institutes
News Release from: Scottish Building Federation
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 15 February 2006
Scottish Building new Occupational
Health service
Scotland's leading construction sector Federation, has launched an important new service providing its members with Occupational Health advice and support.
Scotland's leading construction sector Federation, has launched an important new service providing its members with Occupational Health advice and support The new programme, which comes into effect on 1 April 2006, sees Scottish Building working in partnership with nationwide Occupational Health services provider Health Sure UK (HSUK), to provide Scottish Building members with a full range of services to improve the health, safety and productivity of their employees
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 21 Aug 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Alyson Morrow, head of Human Resources at Scottish Building, said that while a fit and healthy employee was a major asset to a company, employees who were unable to perform their duties fully could lead to increased costs, reduced productivity, high absence levels and potential claims on company insurance policies, if the employer has contributed to the incapacity, leading to higher future premiums.
That's why, given the current skills shortages confronting the construction sector, it is so important to retain valuable skilled labour for as long as possible, and not lose them needlessly through ill-health and/or ignorance of best practice.
As well as being our most important resource, our workforce undertakes the invaluable task of training the workforce of tomorrow.
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In order that this is done effectively we have a duty to our employees and workers to assist them in their battle to remain as healthy as possible.
The wider issue of healthy living in general is something that again, without progressing to a nanny state, employers were appropriate should be encouraging.
"In many cases, Scottish Building members will need advice and support in handling such problems if they do not have an internal resource to do so," she said.
The new service gives Scottish Building members automatic access to a dedicated telephone helpline, which will be staffed by HSUK nurses able to give advice on how to deal with problem issues.
This service will provide up to one hour of free advice for each inquiry.
If further support is needed, HSUK will provide this at a special discount rate for Scottish Building members.
Examples of the services available include:.
* Independent Occupational Health assessment of employees to determine their fitness to carry out duties.
* Health surveillance programmes to monitor the health of workers exposed to risks such as hearing loss, respiratory and skin disorders, hand arm vibration syndrome, vision screening etc.
* Employees who work at heights or in confined spaces or drive lift trucks especially require monitoring in this respect.
* Specialist assessments for exposure to lead, radiation, asbestos etc can be arranged.
* Lifestyle health screening, which has the dual benefit of helping the employee look after their health better for their sake and that of their family, as well as the benefit to the employer who has a fitter employee with improved productivity and attendance records.
Alyson Morrow said Occupational Health's role was to help maintain the health and fitness of employees to enable them to carry out their work duties, and to advise the employer as to how to design and operate programmes to ensure that these objectives are met.
"Examples of Occupational Health input include advising on policies and procedures, pre-employment protocols, night-worker assessments, regular health surveillance screening of workers exposed to potential risks such as noise induced hearing loss or hand arm vibration syndrome, and sickness absence management including arranging medicals by an independent doctor, case management and return to work strategies".
Glasgow-based HSUK is a long established provider of Occupational Health support and services to many companies across the UK, including a number of building companies.
HSUK specialises in providing services on an as-required basis and will tailor services specifically for each Scottish Building member.
To access services, Scottish Building members will contact HSUK by phone.
A nurse will be available to discuss the caller's requirements and give advice on how to manage the situation.
Scottish Building members will then deal directly with HSUK to make any further arrangements, which will be provided at a discounted price.
HSUK will treat all information they receive confidentially, and data will not be used for any purpose other than the inquiry made.
Each month Scottish Building will be advised of which members used the telephone helpline as Scottish Building will be paying for this service.
However, no details of the reasons for the calls or the outcomes will be disclosed by HSUK.
For further information please contact Alyson Morrow at Tel: 01324 555550.
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