Latest news from Loughborough University
| 15 December 2003 | PR 03/109 |
Companies needed to help improve workplace health and safety
Researchers from Loughborough University are appealing for organisations to take part in a major study looking at how changes to reduce workplace health and safety risks can be made more effective.
The team is working with researchers from Nottingham University on the project, which is being funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It focuses on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) - the most common type of occupational ill health in Britain today - which affect the muscles, joints, and tendons. The research aims to explore the extent to which attempts to reduce MSDs can be made more effective by highlighting the first two stages of the HSE’s recommended framework for managing the problem. Stage one is understanding the issues surrounding MSDs and a commitment to taking action to prevent them occurring. Stage two is creating the right organisational environment.
The team is hoping to speak to companies planning on making any changes to try and reduce the risks of MSDs between now and August 2004. These changes could include training initiatives or alterations to the workplace or tasks. The researchers would like to monitor one or more of these initiatives in order to help evaluate their effectiveness and identify any barriers to change. A member of the team will collect initial information before the project begins, exploring risk perceptions, safety attitudes and intentions amongst a small number of employees during a workplace visit. They will then make a return visit four to six months later to evaluate the success of the initiatives.
Principal researcher for the study, Zara Whysall said: “As MSDs remain the most common form of work-related ill health in Britain, efforts must be made to ensure that attempts to reduce these risks are effective. By helping companies assess employees’ knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and intentions - factors that are crucial to the successful up-take of interventions - participation will help improve the effectiveness of their initiatives to reduce the risks of MSDs.”
Organisations interested in
participating in the research are asked to contact Zara Whysall by calling
01509 228481 or emailing Z.J.Whysall@lboro.ac.uk
Ends
For further information contact:
- Zara Whysall, Principal
Researcher, T: 01509 228481,
E: Z.J.Whysall@lboro.ac.uk
Notes to editors
- The HSE’s recommended framework for managing MSDs can be found in ‘Upper Limb Disorders in the Workplace’ (HSE, 2002).
- Further information about
the project is also available on the Universities’ websites:
The Health & Safety Ergonomics Unit, Loughborough University: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/hu/groups/hseu/soc_project_summary.htm
The Institute of Work, Health, and Organisations, Nottingham University: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/I-WHO - Loughborough has an established reputation for excellence in teaching and research, strong links with industry, and unrivalled sporting achievement. Assessments of teaching quality by the Quality Assurance Agency place Loughborough in the top flight of UK universities, and industry highlights Loughborough in its top five for graduate recruitment. Around 30% of the University’s income is for research. The University has been awarded four Queen’s Anniversary Prizes: for its collaboration with aerospace and automotive companies such as BAE Systems, Ford and Rolls Royce; for its work in developing countries; for pioneering research in optical engineering; and for its world-leading role in sports research, education and development.