Businesses are beginning to return to work. Employees who have been safely working remotely are now preparing themselves for a return to the workplace. For many, this is good news, and a step on the path towards normality. Yet anxiety remains for employees in a variety of workplaces, from teachers, construction contractors, and office based workers.
It is no secret that mental health issues affect the construction industry more severely than comparable industries. Male site workers are three times more likely to commit suicide than their non-construction counterparts; with men making up nearly 90% of the construction workforce, this is a clear systemic issue in the industry.
New York state has perhaps been the worst hit region of the US during this Coronavirus pandemic. With rising death rates – higher than many countries –Cuomo drew attention to the potential that crises possess to spur on innovation, urging us to consider not just a ‘reopening’ but a ‘reimagining’ of society, one in which technology is fully utilised for the protection of people and the economy.
The HSE Executive recently published guidelines on how COVID-19 incidents should be reported. RIDDOR reportable incidents include:
‘An unintended incident at work has led to someone’s possible or actual exposure to Coronavirus. This must be reported as a dangerous occurrence.
A worker has been diagnosed as having COVID 19 and there is reasonable evidence that it was caused by exposure at work. This must be reported as a case of disease.
A worker dies as a result of occupational exposure to Coronavirus.’
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has had far reaching consequences on all of us. In much the same way that the ’08 crisis changed the way in which the financial services markets operated, we predict that COVID-19 will force every investor to take ESG seriously. In even these early days of the pandemic – with nations such as the USA and UK yet to feel the full brunt of the virus – ESG funds have fallen by half the decrease of non-ESG funds on the S&P 500. More than anything, this pandemic underlies the vulnerability & fragility of a fully globalised word and raises the question – how can businesses adapt for a post COVID-19 world?
London, 31.03.2020 - For many UK businesses this is a time of uncertainty; restaurants, pubs, and non-essential shops are closed. Nearly all of us are self-isolating and working from home. Yet for many businesses work still goes on, notably in the construction and manufacturing sectors - essential work which can hardly be done remotely. So how can businesses ensure continuity, while keeping the workforce safe?
Responsible investing is widely understood as the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment processes and decision-making. ESG factors cover a wide spectrum of issues that traditionally are not part of financial analysis, yet may have financial relevance.’ Forbes, 2018
One of the most significant health & safety events of the last decade was the introduction of new sentencing guidelines by the HSE in February 2016. Between 2018 and 2019, 36 separate cases received fines of £500,000 or more, with the single largest fine totalling a staggering £3 million. In 2015 – the last full year without these new guidelines – the total monetary value of fines levied was relatively small, with only 5 cases at or above £500,000. Medium sized businesses, with a turnover between £10 - £50m, found themselves increasingly at risk from crippling fines. So how can these businesses protect their workforce?
Emex is turning 10! To mark this special occasion we have decided to launch a brand new Emex blog, exploring all things EHS. Stay tuned for industry comments, news, and opinion pieces. On this special occasion we would especially like to thank our fantastic clients across the world, who motivate us every day to make Emex the best it can be.