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.

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!

However, the environmental conditions and substances 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 in a way suitable to your organisation.

The tools are a set of films and reference cards, to help organisations identify 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 are a set of six films and written guidance 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 films introduce you and your workers to common health risks, and you can use each film separately to raise awareness of the specific risks in your own workplace.

The written guidance provides 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, film six, 'getting extra help and support' signposts you to organisations who are there to give you ongoing support (external link).

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What health risks are covered by the initiative?

The Health Risk at Work initiative is designed to introduce you and your workers to common health risks. The films to help you manage risks in your workplace are:

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 continuing professional development activities available from IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (external link).

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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 Adviceline 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. View a film on getting extra help and support (external link). As well as the Centre for Healthy Working Lives' Adviceline 0800 019 2211, you might also want to contact the Health and Safety Executive (external link)

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 of ways:


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) (external link)

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)

RoSPA 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.

www.rospa.com (external link) and you can call them on 0131 449 9379.

View RoSPA's information focusing on their activities in Scotland (external link)


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:

Further Information on Health Risks at Work

Email your query now to: nhs.healthscotland-HealthRiskAtWork@nhs.net or call our Adviceline on 0800 019 2211.

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Last reviewed on 30 January 2012

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