Blackwell Associates Ltd

20/12/2024

Our offices are now closed for the festive period and will reopen on Thursday 2nd January 2025 as our team take a well earned break. We wish all our colleagues, clients and patients a Merry Christmas and a healthy & happy 2025.

Best wishes,

Blackwell Associates Ltd

01/11/2024

*November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month*

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is raising awareness on occupational lung diseases and how to protect workers’ health.

It is estimated that 12,000 people die from work-related lung diseases every year.

These deaths, linked to exposure to hazardous substances at work, include lung cancer and approximately 5,000 asbestos-related disease deaths.

HSE is currently running 2 campaigns to highlight the risks of asbestos and how to stay safe. Free resources and information are available at:

- 'Asbestos – Your Duty' (https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/asbestos-your-duty-campaign-assets/?utm_source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=asbestos-trades&utm_term=ay-wr&utm_content=asbestos-29-oct-24) which provides guidance and templates to support dutyholders with the legal duty to manage asbestos in buildings;
- 'Asbestos and You' (https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/asbestos/ ) which highlights the risk of asbestos to tradespeople and includes a free quick guide for tradespeople to download.

Regulation 22 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) places a duty on employers to maintain a health record for employees involved in licensed work with asbestos and make sure they are under medical surveillance by an appointed doctor. ‘Licensed work’ includes work with the most dangerous forms of asbestos, where asbestos fibres can be most easily released into the air, leading to a higher risk of worker exposure. Examples of this are work with asbestos coatings and most work with asbestos insulation and asbestos insulating board. CAR also requires that workers involved in some types of non-licensed work with asbestos are under medical surveillance. This medical surveillance may be conducted by an appointed doctor or a doctor who is not appointed by HSE, provided they are GMC-registered and have a licence to practise.

Should you wish to enquire about medical surveillance assessments under CAR that are available upon request from our in-house HSENI-appointed doctors, please do get in touch at enquiries@blackwellassociates.co.uk or by telephone on 02890 656131.

26/09/2024

What is Occupational Health (OH)?

In short, it's much more than you think! The Society of Occupational Medicine's short video explains more about how OH can support effective, productive working lives and wellbeing: https://lnkd.in/ehhnVDFg

OH professionals (including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals) maintain the health and wellbeing of employees and help keep them at work and facilitate return to work if they are off long-term sick leave.

The most common workplace health problems are mental health and musculoskeletal related. OH professionals collaborate with staff and employers to develop solutions that enable staff with health issues to continue working, with adjustments if necessary.

Studies have found that OH is an investment which pays off. For example, a £1 investment in OH leads to £1.93 saving in absenteeism costs or a £2.35 saving in medical costs
https://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/Occupational_Health_The_Value_Proposition_March_2022.pdf

OH interventions have been shown to help people with disabilities and long-term conditions stay in work and increase productivity across the workforce.

25/09/2024

Occupational Health is vital in supporting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, particularly when coupled with Human Resources. The Society of Occupational Medicine's report explains how, when the two work together, a systemic approach to supporting mental health at work can be achieved. Read more:https://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/The_Value_of_OH_and_HR_in_supporting_mental_health_and_wellbeing_in_the_workplace_Nov23_0.pdf

23/09/2024

Today Occupational Health Awareness Week 2024 launches with a blog from SOM Chief Executive Nick Pahl. Running 23 to 29 September, the week aims to raise awareness of occupational health and its real-life benefits. Read more https://www.som.org.uk/occupational-health-awareness-week-monday-23rd-sunday-29th-september

10/09/2024

Today represents World Su***de Prevention Day. To mark this, the Society of Occupational Medicine have produced new guidance ‘Su***de Postvention in the Workplace: Supporting Organisations and Employees’ https://lnkd.in/ee6NdqCA which provides evidence-informed guidance and recommendations for organisations to respond to the death by su***de of a colleague, or the unexpected death of a colleague from other causes. As well as having utility for occupational health practitioners, this welcome guidance document will also be of benefit to wellbeing leads, HR professionals, managers, and policy makers

***depreventionday

27/05/2024

Last Friday it was certainly a case of 'we're all in the same boat' as the Blackwell Associates team had our late Spring / early Summer team outing with a relaxing boat cruise on the River Lagan, superbly hosted by Ahoy Belfast (thanks again for having us!). A great evening was had by all in great company 🛥 ⚓ 🐠

26/02/2024

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-occupational-health-taskforce-to-tackle-in-work-sickness-and-drive-down-inactivity

"A healthy economy is only possible with a healthy workforce.

We want more people to be able to benefit from good occupational health, especially employees in small businesses, because we know it works."

(Minister for Health and Social Care, Helen Whately MP)

The UK Government recently launched its Occupational Health Innovation Fund which has provided £1m funding to 10 projects to develop innovative new models of OH, using technology to improve the capacity and capability of OH providers and increase access for SMEs. Phase Two of the fund is expected t...

02/01/2024

With a New Year comes a new service that Blackwell Associates Ltd are pleased to offer. Adding to the diverse range of clinical services available to our customers, we can now provide statutory medical examinations to workers under The Ionising Radiations Regulations (NI) 2017.

To find out more, please contact our office on 028 90 656131 or email enquiries@blackwellassociates.co.uk

22/12/2023

Blackwell Associates Ltd signed off for the Christmas break this morning, with some of the team making the short trip to the Belmont Road for Christmas brunch (and with some only too happy to sport their choice of Christmas jumper!).

Our offices are now closed as our team takes a well earned rest with their family and loved ones. We will open again on Tuesday 2nd January 2024.

From all at Blackwell Associates Ltd, we wish all our patients and customers a Merry Christmas and a healthy & happy New Year. 🎅 🎄 🎉

22/09/2023

What are the core functions of effective Occupational Health services to a workplace?
- Helping workers return to work if they have been on a period of sickness absence
- Supporting workers in the workplace with illness and disability
- Helping avoid future health problems due to the demands of the job
- Offering advice on how workers can manage their own health and wellbeing
- Helping to make sure workers are fit enough to do their job
To find out more on how Occupational Health can help your company and your workers, please explore the helpful guide for SMEs to Occupational Health and Wellbeing in the workplace produced by the Commercial Occupational Health Providers Association, available athttps://www.som.org.uk/sites/som.org.uk/files/COHPA_Guide_for_SMEs_to_OH_and_Wellbeing_in_the_Workplace.pdf