Health Risks at Work

Every organisation, large or small are invited to become involved in the Health Risks at Work initiative, to identify and manage the common risks to health associated with work activities.
This page will tell you more about the initiative and how you and your organisation can become involved. You will also find links to further information and advice on health risks in your workplace.

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What is the Health Risks at Work initiative?

Work is important for health; this includes our economic and physical health and our mental health and wellbeing. Equally, health is important for work, for productive and successful businesses, thriving local communities and the
sustainable economic development of our nation. In short – Healthy people make healthy profits!(external link)

However the environmental conditions and substanceses we are exposed to, can cause long-term harm to our health.

These risks to health can be managed, and ill health prevented, if every business takes some simple steps to identify sources of harm and implement measures to manage them. The Health Risks at Work initiative provides tools and support for smaller organisations to help identify these risks and manage them is a way suitable to the organisation.
The tools are a DVD and written Rapid Reference Cards, to help organisations identity where they may have problems. Critically, face to face advice and support is also part of the process of learning about and managing these health risks. The Health Risks at Work initiative involves the provision of free, face to face support or mentoring from Champions.

How does the initiative support small and medium sized organisations?

The Health Risks at Work initiative provides tools and face to face support. The tools include a DVD and written guidance that is designed to help smaller organisations through the process of identifying health risks and taking steps to protect workers and the future of the business. The DVD is designed to introduce you and your workers to common health risks, each section can be used separately to raise awareness of the specific risks in your own workplace.
The written guidance forms a series of Rapid Reference Cards to provide you with quick and easy access to information on health risks.

The Health Risks at Work package not only provides practical information to help you manage risks in your workplace, it also signposts you to
organisations who are there to give you ongoing support.

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What health risks are covered by the initiative?

The Health risk at work initiative designed to introduce you and your workers to common health risks. These include:

What is the role of champions in the initiative?

These Champions come from across the wider health and safety community in Scotland. Champions come from partner organisations such as the Health and Safety Executive and Healthy Working Lives but also from all sectors of business, industry and the voluntary sector. Champions are often experienced health and safety professions who can give some of their knowledge and support to organisations who do not currently have this expertise. The role of Health Risks Champions is key to the development of the health risks initiative, Champions can:


•Identify organisations that need help - Champions are well placed to identify smaller organisations that may benefit from support and assistance in managing their health risks. These organisations may be in the supply chain, the same business sector or have some other involvement with the business.
•Engage participating organisations – Champions are asked to demonstrate the Health Risks at Work package to the organisations that they have identified, to raise their awareness of the issues. There is a separate Health Risks Champions Pack for champions to assist in this process.
•Offer ongoing mentoring and support – Where possible champions are encouraged to work with their participating organisations to mentor them through the process of indentifying and managing health risks in their workplace.
•Signposting to other bodies – Where a Champion is not in a position to offer support in the process, they should refer the participating organisation on to our supporting organisations who can offer this additional assistance.

As a Champion you will be kept up to date with changes or improvements in the initiative and your participation in mentoring other organisations can be used towards your professional CPD for example the IOSH CPD program (http://www.iosh.co.uk/index.cfm?go=professional.main external link to IOSH CPD), internal organisational development and your organisations involvement in the Healthy Working Lives Award Program.

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How do I become a Champion?

In order to receive a Health Risks at Work Champions pack, packs for your participating organisations and become involved in the initiative, it is necessary to register as a Champion. The necessary information and materials will then be posted to you. As a Champion you are asked to register participating organisations that you are supporting through the process.

Register to become a Champion

How do I register as a participating organisation?

The Health Risks at Work initiative is open to all small and medium sized organisations in Scotland. Organisations can register to receive support from the Health Risks initiative either through their supporting Champion or directly by registering on this site or contacting the Healthy Working Lives advice line team on 08000192211. If you do not have a Champion to support you, your local Healthy Working Lives Adviser will make contact to demonstrate the Health Risks materials and offer assistance.

Register as a participating organisation

Which organisations are offering support through Health Risks at Work?

Many national organisations are supporting the Health Risks at Work Initiative and the staff from some of these bodies are offering direct support and assistance, they are:

Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives (SCHWL)SCHWL is part of the NHS in Scotland and provides free and confidential advice and support to help you manage the safety and health problems within your workplace.

Health and Safety Executive(external link)The Health and Safety Executive
Working together with local authorities, the HSE also provides advice and guidance to help people meet their health and safety responsibilities. By working in partnership with employers, trade unions, professional and trade bodies and other organisations. HSE Inspectors(external site) and Advisory Officers(external site) visit individual businesses on the basis of risk, and concentrates its work where risks are likely to be highest.
The HSE can help you in a number through:

  • Comprehensive information, downloadable guidance & resources relevant to many work situations & sectors
  • Advice through HSE Infoline between 8 am and 6 pm Monday to Friday:
  • Telephone: 0845 345 0055, Fax: 0845 408 9566, Minicom: 0845 408 9577
  • Email: hse.infoline@connaught.plc.uk (external link)


Local Authorities
Local Authority Environmental Health teams also offer free advice on health and safety. Check your council’s website for details.

Scottish Chamber of Safety (SCoS)
The Scottish Chamber of Safety (external link)is the coordinating body for all Occupational Health and Safety Groups throughout Scotland. SCoS members are locally managed occupational health and safety groups which themselves are made up of member companies from a variety of industry sectors, and are able to give advice and support to individuals and organisations in their local areas. In addition, they encourage good practice by recognising the achievements of the members, and provide various opportunities for networking. Safety Group members offer to assist, and here possible, mentor smaller organisations to ensure that they are receiving positive health and safety advice.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)-(external link)
• Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
ROSPA www.rospa.com (external site) is a safety charity that is widely recognised as a key stakeholder within the UK’s health and safety system, and is well respected for its mission ‘to save lives and reduce injuries’.
To support its charitable mission, RoSPA also offers a broad range of products
and services, including posters and publications, conferences and seminars,
training and consultancy support and membership.
Contact RoSPA at:
•www.rospa.com(external link)
•www.rospa.com/trainingscotland (external link)
•Telephone: 0131 449 9379

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Which organisations are supporting Health Risks at Work?

The Health Risks at Work initiative is supported across the wider health and safety community by organisations who are committed to improving health at work:

Professional Organisations in Occupational Safety and Health, Scotland (POOSH)
The ergonomics Society (external link)
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (external link)
British occupational Health Society (external link)
The Scottish Trade Union Congress (external link)
The international Institute of Safety and Risk Management (external link)
The British safety Industry federation(external link)
Safety Groups UK(external site)

Further Information on Health Risks at Work

Email your query now to: hwlhratw@health.scot.nhs.uk

Call our Adviceline on 0800 019 2211

More advice on sickness absence and managing common health risks at work (external site)

Whatever the size of your business, HSE has guidance to help you manage the health and safety of your business and your staff (external site)

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