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In brief
USE OF VIRGIN HCFCS NOW BANNED
Monitor readers are reminded that from 1 January 2010 it is illegal to use virgin HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) to service refrigeration/air conditioning (RAC) equipment. This ban applies even if HCFCs were purchased before 2010 - it is now illegal to stockpile and use virgin HCFCs. The ban refers to the ‘use' of HCFCs for servicing and maintenance - it is highly significant for any organisation that uses refrigerants (such as R22 or R408A) in processes or air conditioning systems. The sectors most affected include food and drink, petro-chemicals, pharmaceuticals, health, retail, hospitality, finance and data-processing. Typical applications vary widely, but examples include refrigeration systems, chillers, cold stores and process coolers, plus many types of building air conditioning. It is still legal to continue using RAC systems containing HCFCs, providing they do not require maintenance that involves putting HCFCs into the system - but this is not a sustainable strategy since most refrigeration systems will eventually leak or break down. WORKING JOINTS AND MUSCLES TOOLKIT A toolkit designed to give employers practical guidance in promoting musculoskeletal health as part of an integrated health and wellbeing programme has been launched by Business in the Community. The toolkit includes research which employers can take to promote musculoskeletal health in the workplace, including:
BOORMAN REPORT ACCEPTED The Government has accepted all the recommendations made in the Boorman report into the health and wellbeing of NHS staff (see Monitor, September 2009). While the report is only binding on NHS employers the fact that all recommendations have been accepted means that they may be incorporated elsewhere in the future. There were 20 recommendations in the final report, including:
INCREASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT The Government says that new support for those with mental health conditions will help them manage their conditions so they can stay in work or get back to work as quickly as possible if they lose their job or have never worked. The new support includes:
The framework can be found at: www.workingforhealth.gov.uk LEADERSHIP EFFECT ON HEALTH Perceived poor managerial leadership increases not only the amount of sick leave taken at a workplace, but also the risk of sickness among employees later on in life according to research published by the Swedish Karolinska Institutet. The longer a person has had a ‘poorer' manager, then his or her risk of, for example, suffering a heart attack within a ten-year period is correspondingly higher. The research is in a thesis based on data from almost 20,000 employees. The researchers compared levels of self-rated stress, health, sick leave and emotional exhaustion with how subjects perceived their managers' leadership in terms of certain positive and negative criteria. More information is available from http://ki.se/?l=en FOAMED CONCRETE ADVICE Interim advice on using foamed concrete is available from the HSE while it investigates an explosion involving the substance. The foaming agent in the concrete mix was air produced by the addition of surfactants and agitation. It appears that while the concrete was setting, hydrogen was produced. Aluminium is known to react with cement/concrete mixtures to form hydrogen. The particular concrete mix included incinerator bottom ash (IBA) which is suspected of being the source of aluminium. The IBA supplier has been asked to advise customers that foamed concrete mixes containing IBA or other recycled materials should be poured in the open air. If they are to be poured within a building or confined area, adequate ventilation must be provided and the entire surface of the poured concrete should remain visible until it has set. Sources of ignition should be kept away from the concreted area during the pouring and setting process. More information is available at: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/liveissues/foamedconcrete.htm NIGHT SHIFT DIABETES RISK Research published in ‘Chronobiology International' suggests that diabetes could be a potential risk from shift work. A study in the journal of more than 7,000 subjects concludes that shift work constitutes an independent risk factor for impaired glucose metabolism, a risk factor for diabetes. The study highlights a previously unrecognised risk for the millions of people who work atypical shift schedules, it says. "It has long been known that sleep debt has a harmful impact on carbohydrate metabolism and endocrine function", said Michael Smolensky, co-editor of ‘Chronobiology International'. "It is therefore reasonable to expect that shift work may influence glucose asptolerance". He added the impact of shift work on glucose tolerance "was similar to that seen with well-established risk factors, such as age and BMI". Smolensky said "intelligent development of more health-preserving shift schedules together with efficient health screening and regular check-ups may be of considerable benefit in maintaining the health of this vulnerable group of workers". ‘Chronobiology International': www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713597233 RoSPA UPDATES SEARCH FACILITIES A new system for searching RoSPA's collection of accident prevention resources has been launched. RoSPA says its Infocentre catalogue has been transferred to a new online system, which is designed to make it easier for members to locate the journal articles, books, pamphlets and reports they need. The Liberty library management system is said to allow users to ask to borrow the item or to receive a .pdf version or photocopy. Searches can be made for specific items, or the catalogue can be periodically searched for newly purchased/catalogued books or articles. Searches can be printed or saved. RoSPA Members can access the new search facility at: www.rospa.com/members/ and following the Infocentre links. |
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