The September 2026 Council Connect newsletter has now been published.

To read the newsletter – click here

Keeping Healthcare Workers Safe During Heatwaves: Guidance, Policy Template and Risk Assessment

To view the Guidance, click here

The July newsletter has been published.  Read it here

We have received this report from RoSPA.  Protecting workforce competence for safer, healthier workplaces. (1 July 2026)

Please find attached the KBW Story so far (June Final report)

A large number of workers in the kitchen worktop industry have been subjected to acute exposure to toxic dust, resulting in deaths and serious and incurable illness. Silicosis can be asymptomatic and hard to diagnose. Many GPs, healthcare workers and occupational health professionals may be unsure of what to do if they encounter workers who have been exposed. Please can you promote the following link as widely as possible amongst professional colleagues Information for GPs | Lungs at Work”

HAVS Risk Reduction Pledge

The HSE held a Prevention Summit and requested employers to take initiative to proactively manage health risks to reduce the risk of occupational diseases.

Cadent gas led the way by establishing a HAV Group and inviting organisations across the industry to join them.

These Utilities sector organisations have launched a Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) Risk Reduction Pledge aiming to eliminate new cases of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) by 2035, signalling a shift beyond compliance toward innovation and improved data integrity across the supply chain. The pledge intends to enhance vibration risk management by exceeding minimum standards, influencing market priorities, fostering innovation, strengthening data trust, and integrating vibration risk in procurement decisions. Recognizing the serious and preventable nature of HAVS, the initiative emphasizes leadership, senior accountability, and alignment with strategic health priorities to protect workers and address persistent occupational health risks. Change will be driven through shared commitment, collaboration, continuous improvement, support for affected individuals, and consistent contractor standards across the industry. The pledge commits signatories to achieving zero new HAVS cases by 2035, reflecting a unified dedication to safer workplaces in the utilities sector.

To sign the Hand Arm Vibration Risk Reduction Pledge, or find out more,  please see here.

To access brief notes from the SOM Special Interest Group – Managing cannabis use in the workplace, click here.

To read the June 2026 Council Newsletter, click here