Skip to main content

Skip to main content

Advice and guidance on workplace health

Information is available from many Government departments, organisations and charities on health generally in the work place, specific health issues, healthy lifestyles and managing health risks. Details of some of the guidance, advice and help available to employers and employees who need help on health issues is set out below. This is not a full list of the help available but provides a range of useful information. It is for the employer to decide which are useful for them dependent on the needs they have identified for their employees and business.

Government advice

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is leading a across Government initiative to protect and improve the health and well-being of working age people. This is also supported by the Department of Health, Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government. DWP promotes and provides information on health work and wellbeing including case studies that cover health issues that happen in the railway industry.

HSE gives advice and guidance on employer responsibilities for managing health generally and for specific occupational health diseases in the Government Regulators Information Point (GRIP).

An NHS-funded service provides businesses in England with instant and free access to professional advice and information on a whole range of employee health and well-being at work issues - recognising that it is often small and medium-sized businesses that feel the burden of sickness absence. As well as, the Adviceline for small business helpline - 0800 0 77 88 44, there is the Health for Work Adviceline website. There are also NHS health working lives web sites for Scotland and Wales.

Independent information

Many non-profit making and charitable organisations also provide information on work and health. They include:

  • Constructing Better Health who oversee the national scheme to manage occupational health in the construction industry. A number of member construction companies carry out renewals work on the railway;
  • The Institution of Safety and Health (IOSH) provides an occupational health toolkit with information, guidance, factsheets, case studies, training materials and  presentations to help with health issues; and
  • The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development who have factsheets and information on health safety and wellbeing particularly on absence management and stress.

Some other charities provide advice on specific health issues for example on: 

Last updated: 8 February 2012