Occasionally my customers tell me that members of staff have allege that they have an illness connected with their work. This is a bit of a minefield but note that the key point is that any illness cause must have a clear link to the workplace and you must see suitable medical evidence before you take action.
What Action?
1 – You must report the following types of illness to the HSE but again only where there is a clear link and medical evidence (provided by medical personnel).
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: where the person’s work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools
- Cramp of the hand or forearm: where the person’s work involves prolonged periods of repetitive movement of the fingers, hand or arm
- Occupational dermatitis: where the person’s work involves significant or regular exposure to a known skin sensitizer or irritant
- Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome: where the person’s work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools, or holding materials subject to percussive processes, or processes causing vibration
- Occupational asthma: where the person’s work involves significant or regular exposure to a known respiratory sensitizer
- Tendonitis or tenosynovitis: in the hand or forearm, where the person’s work is physically demanding and involves frequent, repetitive movements
To report the above illnesses you should go to: http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/report.htm
2 – You must take action (as far as you can) to reduce the risk of the condition either re-occurring (in the same person or another) or worsening.
What if it’s not ‘on the list’?
If the illness is not on the list but it is still medically supported and clearly linked to work then you still must take action prevent re-occurrence or worsening.