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Posted By Rob Warwick
I hope someone can help. We are looking to carryout a study on the effect that extended working hours has on health and safety.
In summary the enquiry seeks to establish the effect on staff’s health from undertaking extended hours of work, typically working into the evening. In quantifying the issue I would like a comparison with current and possible working arrangements with those norms and good practices in healthcare and other relevant industrial sectors. The study should also draw on relevant legislation and good practice.
Is anyone aware any consultancy or firm that could help us to carryout this work?
Regards,
Rob
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Posted By Kieran Dowling
Rob,
Save yourself the trouble. See the HSE report from last year: Working Long Hours HSL/2003/02. That found inter alia that there is evidence:
- of a link between long working hours and fatigue
- that working long hours can lead to stress or mental ill health
- of the effects on physical health(especially cardiovascular disorders)
- of a link between long hours and likelihood of work-related accidents e.g driving
- that long hours impact negatively on home and family life
The question I'd like to ask therefore is, why doesn't HSE do anything to enforce the Working Time Regs? No reply necessary!
Kieran
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
Kieran
The Working Time Regulations are not health and safety legislation; therefore, the HSE are not responsible for their enforcement.
Paul
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Posted By peter gotch
The Working Time Regulations were not made under powers within HSWA 1974, and are thence not "relevant statutory provisions" within the meaning of Section 53 of the Act.
However, Regulation 28 defines "relevant requirements" and indicates these to be accorded the status of quasi-relevant statutory provisions.
Regulation 28 also places enforcement responsibility re the relevant requirements on HSE.
Peter
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Posted By John Murgatroyd
Save yourself even more time.
The DTI has extensive research on this very subject
Start at:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/emar/errs16vol1.pdf
and work down the VERY long list of what they've got.
And the HSE are responsible for enforcement of the european working time directive, including checking the mandatory records kept of employees hours worked.
If employees want to work hours in excess of 48 per week (averaged over 17 weeks) they HAVE to sign a letter stating such.
As a matter of fact, the directive opt-out expired last year and the UK is negotiating to extend it....indications are that europe will not accept any further opt-out and that hours will be limited by law to the above.
Certainly, all the unions here and in europe are working to that end.
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Posted By Kieran Dowling
Thanks John, beat me to it re HSE's responsibilities. I thought some would try and claim the opposite.
Kieran
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