Dear CIO Pull-Henning Kamp, Re: Important News from SignUp The first Press Release is from the Department for Work and Pensions. It details a pioneering project established by the Government that will test new ways of helping sick workers keep their jobs. Further information can be obtained by calling the free phone number 07659 108883. In the second article, Health and Safety Minister Nick Brown, urges organizations that use hazardous chemicals to look at ways of preventing ill health. He was speaking at the launch of the European Week for Safety and Health Action Pack. Requests for action packs can be made on the website http://www.hse.gov.uk/euroweek, or by calling 0800 0850050 / 08701 545500. Kind regards, The SignUp Team Reference:JRRPpres Date: 13 March 2003 DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS: PIONEERING PROJECT COULD STOP SICK WORKERS LOSING THEIR JOBS A cutting edge project to test new ways of helping sick workers keep their jobs is being launched by the Government. The research project could provide valuable information to enable people to get back to work quickly without losing their current jobs and help businesses retain skilled and experienced workers. The Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot (JRRP), funded by the Department for Work and Pensions in partnership with the Department of Health, is set to start on 1 April. It will examine the barriers preventing people from a healthy return to work after sick absence and try to find ways of overcoming them. DWP Work Minister Nick Brown said: Every week people lose their job because of health problems. They can then be out of work and relying on benefits for years a waste of both human and taxpayers resources. This cutting edge initiative could prove a real boost to workers and bosses across the U.K. Evidence shows that the earlier people off work because of sickness receive help, the better their chance of returning to their job. The research project will test how extra health and workplace support can help people get well again, return to work and keep their jobs. We will of course need to carefully evaluate the results to see how successful the different pilot models have been. Health Minister David Lammy said Existing research does not tell us if extra help at work or through the health service will be effective in keeping people in their jobs. It makes sense to carry out new research so that we can see what works and what doesnt. Involving 7,500 selected volunteers, the JRRP will run for two years in six pilot areas across the country: Greater Glasgow, Teesside, Tyneside, Birmingham, Sheffield and West Kent. The innovative project will be open to eligible employed and self-employed volunteers who have been off work for between 6 and 26 weeks. External providers will deliver the pilot under contract. Pilot service providers will publicise the research project in each area and encourage volunteers, working with health professionals and employers. For more information phone the free number 07659 108883. NOTES TO EDITORS: 1. People interested in volunteering in the pilot areas will be asked to contact a national contact centre and if eligible they will be assigned to specific research groups. One group will deal with problems in the workplace that may have contributed to the persons ill health. Another group will offer extra rehabilitation health care services and advice and a third group will provide a combination of health care and work-based support. There will also be a fourth group, a control group. Participants in all four groups will still have access to existing services. 2. An evaluation report will be produced at the end of the pilot in autumn 2005 and the findings will contribute to shaping future policy. 3. The pilot will operate under the following brand names: HealthyReturn (Greater Glasgow) WorkCare (Sheffield, Birmingham and West Kent) Routeback (Tyneside and Teesside). 4. The Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions in partnership with the Department of Health and supported by the Scottish Executive and the Health and Safety Executive. CONTACT DETAILS: Press Office: 0207 238 0866 or 0207 238 0762 Out of hours: 07659 108883 Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171 Website: www.dwp.gov.uk -------------------------------------------- E079:03 19 May 2003 MINISTER URGES ACTION TO MANAGE HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AT WORK Today Health and Safety Minister Nick Brown urged organisations that use hazardous chemicals to look at ways of preventing ill health in the workplace, including cancers, respiratory diseases and skin diseases. The Minister visited the Health and Safety Executives (HSE) launch of the European Week for Safety and Health Action Pack, at its stand at the Safety and Health EXPO in Birmingham on Monday 19 May. The free action pack includes a 12 page European Week Newsletter, a mini CD ROM, stickers, fact sheets, leaflets and a poster, focusing on the theme of this years week, Dangerous Substances, which begins on 13 October. It is designed to help organisations that use potentially harmful chemicals plan an initiative to protect workers health. Mr Brown said: This initiative deserves widespread support throughout the UK. The European Week for Health and Safety is an opportunity for employers, employees and their representatives to look at ways of improving their work environment. The misuse of dangerous substances and chemicals at work can result in debilitating ill health or even cause death. This is not just an issue for large firms. Potentially dangerous substances are used by many of us in cleaning, hairdressing and motor vehicle repair businesses to name just a few. With the right prevention and control measures, most of the ill health effects can be reduced or eliminated. An estimated 6,000 people die from cancer due to occupational causes every year and an estimated 66,000 people suffer from new or existing skin diseases caused by work - around two thirds have dermatitis or eczema. In addition 7,000 new cases of asthma are occupationally caused or have work as a significant contributing factor, every year with an estimated cost over the next 10 years of between £579 million and £1,159 million. John Thompson, head of HSEs chemicals policy division, said: All this is preventable. The majority of the 1.3 million companies covered by specific chemical legislation are small and medium sized enterprises. Many of these dont think of themselves as using chemicals. They see them simply as branded products but they can also be harmful chemicals. Others only partially understand what they need to do to protect their employees and other people from risks from the use of chemicals. Employers, workers and stakeholders can use the week to start to make an impact. HSE is encouraging participants of the European Safety and Health Week to organise campaigns focusing on the weeks theme of dangerous substances, and send feedback to HSE. Independent evaluation of last years European Week, which focused on stress, has revealed that more than half the participants surveyed made specific changes to working practices as a result of the week. It is estimated that the message reached 6.28 million employees and there was a 78 per cent increase in the number of organisations sending for action packs. Requests for action packs can be made on 0800 0850050 or at http:www.hse.gov.uk/euroweek Notes to Editors: 1. This year's Safety & Health Expo 2003 runs from 19-22 May at the NEC, Birmingham and takes place alongside the RoSPA Congress. HSE's stand is Q40, Hall 12, and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work stand is R30, Hall 12. 2. The European Week has taken place six times 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002. HSE has organised seven Health and Safety Weeks including the six European Weeks. The Week is part of a wider European initiative organised by the European Agency for Safety and Health. 3. To promote the week in the UK, HSE has formed a European Group whose members include: TUC, CBI, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), BackCare, British Safety Council, Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland, Health Education Board for Scotland, National Assembly for Wales, Departments of Health, Education and Skills, Work and Pensions, European Week 2001, membership was extended to include the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland, an Environmental Health Officer representing local authorities and representatives of the banking and insurance sectors. Public Enquiries: Call HSE's InfoLine, tel: 08701 545500, or write to: HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG. Press Enquiries: Journalists only: Jan Kemal 020 7717 6902, Out of hours 020 7928 8382 For press review copies telephone 020 7717 6917. HSE information and press releases can be accessed on the Internet: http://www.hse.gov.uk/ (If clicking doesn't work, 'Cut' and 'Paste' the line above into your Web browser's address bar.) _______________________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-hackers To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
