The stress profession is the latest in the occupational health and safety field to embrace the current vogue for accreditation.

Company directors should be disqualified for serious cases of failing to protect their employees’ well-being, according to a new policy paper from the Liberal Democrats.

An electrical-components manufacturer has lost an appeal against a decision that the health of its workers was not adversely affected by strong smells generated by a neighbouring business.

A charity helpline for the retail trade has been swamped with calls from anxious employees, shopkeepers and managers unsure how to deal with the emotional consequences of the riots sweeping the country.

Younger workers are more stressed in their jobs and feel under more pressure to work long hours than their older colleagues.

Two companies must pay more than £250,000 in fines and costs for exposing workers and members of the public to legionella bacteria.

A North Devon decorating supplies company has appeared in court for failing to provide adequate washing facilities for employees who were at risk of contracting dermatitis.

A local council has admitted failing to take steps to protect a worker who developed a severe form of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).

A factory worker has been left with permanent disabilities after contracting a severe form of dermatitis at his workplace.

In addition to a well-drafted “well-being” policy an employer should always be alert to signs of stress among employees and be quick to act, as this round-up of cases by Kevin Bridges illustrates.

Stroke may not be at the top of most practitioners’ lists of major workplace health concerns but, as Dr Chris Ide points out, its incidence is common and likely to become more so with changes in retirement-age legislation, so having robust return-to-work policies and procedures already in place will benefit sufferers.

Because it is fed by and acts on information from all of the sensory organs – ears, eyes, nose and skin – the peripheral nervous system is vulnerable to the effects of myriad hazards in the workplace. Dr Chris Ide investigates.

The kidneys are the body’s filtration system, helping us absorb certain elements necessary for the healthy functioning of the body and get rid of others that we don’t need. But kidney function can be seriously compromised by various work processes and substances, warns Dr Chris Ide, who provides advice for practitioners on what to do.

Dr Paul Nicholson examines the latest evidence in relation to occupational asthma, which practitioners should be aware of if they are to have a positive influence on helping prevent future cases.

Companies that are prepared to take an individualised approach to flexible working could reap the benefits from sustaining a motivated workforce, in the face of an expected rocky year ahead for many sectors of the economy. Dr Jason Devereux explains more.

There is no better time than the start of the year to make changes to your life, so, with this in mind, Prospect has launched a new online resource to help its members achieve a better work-life balance.

The issue of mental ill health is still being ignored in most workplaces, with just four in ten employees saying they would feel confident to disclose a mental-health problem to their employer.

A free online resource has been launched to help people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) take greater control of the condition and improve their ability to stay in work.

A major conference on stress will hear this weekend how work-life balance is now at the bottom of the agenda and work-related suicide is increasing as a result of the parlous state of the economy.

Irish researchers have been awarded major contracts by the European Space Agency to examine the health effects of space travel on astronauts.

According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), there are some simple steps you can take to increase the health and morale of your workforce. To help employers implement these measures, it has designed a new free package of resources.

General Environmental Services Ltd has signed a distribution agreement with Radio-Tech to provide its clients with the latter’s wireless legionella-management system, aquavision.

Aviva UK Health has launched MyHealthCounts for Business, which it describes as an innovative health risk assessment programme that can provide employers with a tangible return within one year.

A new management qualification has been launched to help tackle the UK’s ‘biggest productivity problem’ – the health and well-being of Britain’s workforce.