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Press release: NHS Employers launches updated guidance on occupational health

26 Jan 2005

NHS Employers, the employers' organisation for the NHS, has today launched updated guidance covering occupational health issues such as needlestick injuries, stress management and use of alcohol and drugs.

The management of health, safety and welfare issues for NHS staff, known as the Blue Book, gives advice to employers on a wide range of occupational health and safety issues.  It includes updated guidance on topics such as managing sickness absence and mental health in staff and an additional 14 new chapters covering issues that are of concern to employers today, such as the use of latex; handling dangerous substances; managing and assessing risks; reducing needlestick injuries and stress management.

The guidance, which replaces the first version of the Blue Book published in 1998, was launched at the National Occupational Health and Safety Conference, a two-day event organised by NHS Employers for occupational health and safety specialists. 

"The NHS has come along way since 1998 and is still changing", said NHS Employers National Occupational Health and Safety Lead Julian Topping.  "Occupational health and safety services have also developed and there has been a great demand for new guidance that updates previous work and looks at new areas that are now of concern to employers, such as stress management."

 "The NHS' greatest asset is its staff.   NHS staff are committed to delivering high quality services to patients, but they can only do that if they themselves are fit and healthy.  Occupational health and safety is about making sure that employers are doing everything they can to ensure the safety of their staff while they are at work."

For the first time, the Blue Book guidance will also be available on-line as well as in hard copy.

"We want it to become a living document.  We'll be able to update chapters and add new ones on the website as health and safety issues develop," said Mr Topping.

Notes for editors

1. NHS Employers, the employers' organisation for the NHS in England, was launched on 1 November 2004. Its responsibilities include representing employers' views and acting on their behalf; supporting employers through advice, guidance, information and networking; conducting national negotiations; and developing and promoting the NHS as an employer of excellence. NHS Employers is part of the NHS Confederation but has its own director, policy board and assembly.
2. The first edition of The Blue Book, also known as The management of health, safety and welfare issues for NHS staff, was published in 1998. The 2005 version includes updates on previous occupational health guidance plus new guidance on 14 additional subjects. These include: Health Assessment; The Occupational Health Smart Card; Managing Risk; The Process of Risk Assessment; Slips, Trips and Falls; The Use of Contractors and Sub-Contractors; Dangerous Substances in the Workplace; A Smoke-Free NHS; Stress Management; Rehabilitation and Redeployment; The NHS Pension Scheme and NHS Injury Benefit Scheme; Needlestick Management; Handling Infected Cadavers; and Latex.

Contact details

The press office provides a comprehensive service to keep journalists informed about the work of NHS Employers.

If you have a media enquiry, please contact the press office team:

• Gemma Jeffcoate
  0207 074 3308 or gemma.jeffcoate@nhsemployers.org
• Emma Stafford
  0207 074 3307 or emma.stafford@nhsemployers.org

For out of hours media enquiries, please contact the duty press officer on 07880 500726.

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