JANUARY: NEW RISKS TO WOMEN’S HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK

Posted on January 7, 2014 by The Old Grey Fox
JANUARY: NEW RISKS AND TRENDS IN THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF WOMEN AT WORK: EAOSHA

cover_imageThis new Report by the European Agency for Occupational Safety and Health (EAOSHA) presents an update to the Agency´s previous research on gender issues at work. That earlier report found that inequality both inside and outside the workplace can have an effect on the health and safety of women at work. The report offers both an update and reconsideration of the available literature and is a contribution to the European Risk Observatory‘s programme on the specific challenges in terms of health and safety posed by the more extensive integration of women in the labour market.

UnknownThe new Report provides a statistical overview of the trends in employment and working conditions, hazard exposure and work-related accidents and health problems for women at work. It explores selected issues, such as combined exposures, occupational cancer, access to rehabilitation, and informal work, and also “emerging” female professions such as home care and domestic work. The research highlights the type of work carried out by women, issues faced by younger and older women, the growth of the service sector, violence and harassment, and increasingly diversified working time patterns as major risk factors.

Dr Juliet Hassard, Centre for Sustainable Working Life, Birkbeck University of London, was one of the contributing authors. The Report was formally published on 20th December 2013 and is available at:
https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/reports/new-risks-and-trends-in-the-safety-and-health-of-women-at-work/view.

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JANUARY: END OF AN ERA: WORK & STRESS

Posted on January 6, 2014 by The Old Grey Fox

WORK & STRESS: END OF AN ERA AS FOUNDING EDITOR

twst20.v027.i04.coverAt the beginning of 2013, I announced that I would be taking a back seat in terms of managing the journal Work & Stress and then standing down as its Managing Editor at the end of that year in favour of the Scientific Editor Professor Toon Taris of the University of Utrecht.  That time has now come and my association with the journal appears to have come to an end after some 27 years.

The journal is published by Taylor & Francis (TF Informa). Working with my long time colleague Professor Phillip Dewe and with Micky Pressey (T&F), I established this publication in the late 1980s and remained its Managing Editor until the end of last year 2013. In that time, the journal achieved an Impact Factor (2010) of 3.07 (2011 Thomson Reuters, 2009 Journal Citation Reports) and was ranked 5th among journals of applied psychology. It was also rated a 3 (out of 4) by the Association of Business Schools (ABS). Over recent years, the nature of the journal has changed somewhat but despite its Impact Factor (2012) falling to 1.95 , it has maintained a credible 5-Year Impact Factor 4.275  (2013 Thomson Reuters, 2012 Journals Citation Reports).

I am not sure yet what involvement I will have if any in scientific publishing over the next 5 years. This may become clearer later in 2014.

For other information see the Newsletter of the European Academy for Occupational Health Psychology: http://www.eaohp.org/uploads/1/1/0/2/11022736/eaohp_newsletter_vol_10_issue_2.pdf.
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DECEMBER: PhD SUCCESS

Posted on December 23, 2013 by The Old Grey Fox

Ceri Jones: Assessing Safety Culture and Safety Performance in a High Hazard Industry

images-1We are pleased to share the news that Ceri Jones has been awarded her PhD in Applied Psychology by the University of Nottingham following the submission of her thesis and her viva voce examination. Her research was on Assessing Safety Culture and Safety Performance in a High Hazard Industry. Her examiners were: Dr Nigel Hunt (Internal: Division of Psychiatry & Applied Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham) and Professor Alistair Cheyne (External: Loughborough University Business School).

Ceri Jones currently works for Leicester University Hospitals as their Organisational Development Manager and with the Centre for Sustainable Working Life, School of Business, Economics & Informatics, Birkbeck University of London. Her doctoral research was supervised by Professor Tom Cox and Professor Amanda Griffiths then of the Institute of Work, Health & Organisations, University of Nottingham.

Her success in being awarded a PhD follows on that of Dr Juliet Hassard who achieved her PhD in Applied Psychology earlier in 2013. Juliet Hassard, also a former member of the Institute o0f Work, Health & Organisations, University of Nottingham, is now a Lecturer in Organisational Psychology, School of Business, Economics & Informatics, Birkbeck, University of London, and Assistant Director of the Centre for Sustainable Working Life.

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DECEMBER: LIVING WITH AND BEYOND CANCER

Posted on December 5, 2013 by The Old Grey Fox

BUPA: LIVING WITH AND BEYOND CANCER (2013)

imagesBUPA has recently published an eBook titled Living With and Beyond Cancer. It is available to download free as a pdf (2MB) or as an eBook at: http://www.bupa.co.uk/beyondcancer?cmpid=soc-fbook_bupauk. It is also available as an app on iPad, Google play and Kindle fire.

The book has been developed in collaboration with BUPA members, who have had cancer, to help others understand the physical, emotional, social and financial challenges faced by people after cancer treatment. It contains practical advice and real stories from real people. A short video is also available on the BUPA website (as above).
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NOVEMBER: DEMOS REPORT: FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF CANCER

Posted on November 28, 2013 by The Old Grey Fox

DEMOS REPORT: FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF CANCER: PAYING THE PRICE (2013)

Unknown-2An important report on the financial consequences of cancer by Max Wind-Cowie and Jo Salter  has been published by DEMOS which is arguably Britain’s leading cross-party think tank (November, 2013: ISBN 978 1 909037 46 5). DEMOS has an open access policy.

This Report builds on earlier research undertaken by the University of Bristol and Macmillan Cancer Support. It concludes that a cancer diagnosis can cost an individual an average of £570 a month. The Report details a basis for this estimation. It argues that this cost can places a huge financial burden on patients and their families and that it is an issue that needs to be addressed.

Several of the Reports recommendations naturally focus on working through and after cancer and on the accommodations that organisations should make for their employees with cancer.

  1. Requests for flexible working from people experiencing a period of illness that is temporarily preventing them from working should be granted the same legal status as requests from parents and carers. Currently, anyone can apply to work flexibly, but only parents and carers have the legal right to request to do so. DEMOS has in the past called for flexible working to be extended to all employees, making the right to request universal. For people with long-term conditions, this may require some adaptations to the request process, which can currently take up to 6 weeks. Local and national government could set the agenda, including leading by example, setting the benchmark for good, ‘cancer- friendly’ employers.
  2. Introduce a system of part-time sick leave, similar to the model used in Finland since 2007. Regular conversations between employer and employee about working patterns could also be used as an opportunity to discuss any financial issues.

These recommendations fit easily into the Adaptation – Accommodation Paradigm described by the author here (TC) and his colleagues (Cox, MacLennan & N’Dow, 2014) which has provided the framework for much of their work through the METIS Collaboration.
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NOVEMBER: SCOT-PAIS

Posted on November 27, 2013 by The Old Grey Fox

RESEARCH THROUGH THE METIS COLLABORATION:
The Scot-PAIS Project

images-1The Scot-PAIS research project, led by Dr Sara MacLennan, is focused on the development of a new system for providing practical evidence-based information and advice on working life to those who have been diagnosed with urological cancer in the NE Scotland. The theoretical framework for this research is provided by the Adaptation – Accommodation Paradigm developed and being published by Cox, MacLennan & N’Dow (see Blog below).

Macmillan_picThe project is part of the Programme of Work of the METIS Collaboration hosted by the Academic Urology Unit, University of Aberdeen, is funded by Macmillan in Scotland working with UCAN (the Aberdeen -based cancer charity). It is being supported by a wide range of professional bodies, health service institutions, including NHS Grampian, and both private and public sector bodies. The research team would like to thank all of those who have enthusiastically given their support to this work.

UnknownGood progress is being made. The necessary harvesting of expert information should the launched towards the end of December. The first stages of this Internet-based Delphi exercise are planned to continue into February and March 2014. This exercise is about perceived information needs and the effective delivery of appropriate information and advice over the patient journey. It involves three of the main stake holder groups: patients and their families, health care professionals and employing organizations. The research team believe that it is particularly important to give a voice to all three groups and to reconcile their different perspectives in a realistic and practical way. The Final Report to Macmillan in Scotland and to UCAN is planned for the end of 2014.

UnknownInformation on Scot-PAIS has been published on the web-sites of other organizations concerned with cancer survivorship. There are short articles describing the research on the Vocational Rehabilitation Association UK website at http://www.vra-uk.org/node/353 and on the Action on Bladder Cancer Unknown-1website at: http://www.actiononbladdercancer.org/newsitem.php?newsid=213%2FCancer-Survivorship-The-Patient-Journey-Work-Working-Life-Building-an-Advice-Information-System-for-Patients-in-Scotland-Scot-PAIS .

Those who are interested in supporting this project should contact Sarah Scott at: sarah.scott@abdn.ac.uk or Tom Cox at: t.cox@bbk.ac.uk. _____________________________________________________________

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OCTOBER: UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM

Posted on November 27, 2013 by The Old Grey Fox

NEWS UPDATE: INSTITUTE OF WORK, HEALTH & ORGANIZATIONS
The Dust has Settled: The End of An Era

iwhoAs of the beginning of the current academic year 2013 2014, the Institute of Work, Health & Organizations at the University of Nottingham ceased to exist. Sad as this may be for those who worked hard for the success of this project, the decision of extinguish the Institute was made as part of a wider restructuring of the (then) Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences in the context of changing national and international landscapes of postgraduate teaching and applied research. Most of the staff of the Institute have been incorporated into a new Department of Psychiatry & Applied Psychology while some have opted to move to other departments within the new structure.

UnknownAs many know, the core work of the Institute in areas relating to occupational health and to safety management has been re-established through the new research-focused Centre for Sustainable Working Life (CSWL) at Birkbeck University of London which is now formally established within the School of Business, Economics & Informatics. CSWL is led by Professor Tom Cox CBE and Professor Phillip Dewe (Deputy Master, Birkbeck College) and will host the 2014 Conference of the European Academy for Occupational Health Psychology.

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SEPTEMBER: EUROPEAN ACADEMY NEWSLETTER

Posted on October 17, 2013 by The Old Grey Fox

THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY’S NEWSLETTER:
Conference Details & Much More

The latest issue of the eNewsletter of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology can be down loaded at: http://www.eaohp.org/uploads/1/1/0/2/11022736/eaohp_newsletter_vol_10_issue_1.pdf

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The eNewsletter has improved substantially in recent years thanks largely to the work of its Editors Sue Cowan (suecowan@workingwelltogether.eu) and Jennie Guise (jennieguise@workingwell together.eu): email: suecowan@workingwelltogether.eu or jennieguise@workingwelltogether.eu

The Newsletter includes information on the Academy’s 2014 Conference in London and also an interview with Gerard Zwestloot (TNO). It publishes articles on the Changing Landscape of OSH Regulation in the USA and on the launch in Canada of a National Standard on Psychological Health & Safety in The Workplace.

The eNewsletter is a good and informative read.
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SEPTEMBER: EUROPEAN ACADEMY’S 2014 CONFERENCE

Posted on October 2, 2013 by The Old Grey Fox

EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY: 2014 CONFERENCE

UnknownThe European Academy will be holding its 2014 Conference at Birkbeck University of London from 14th to 16th April. Birkbeck is situated in west central London (Bloomsbury) close to some of the major London mainline train stations and to several underground (metro) stations.

The Conference theme is: Looking at the Past ~ Planning for the Future: Capitalizing on OHP multidisciplinary.

The Conference, which is the 11th in the Academy’s series, aims to match or better the successes of the previous conferences in 2010 (Rome) and 2012 (Zurich). Early indications are that a record number of abstracts may be submitted by the closing date of 22nd October and delegate registrations are high.

For more information go to: http://www.eaohp.org. Alternatively, the latest issue of the eNewsletter also carries much useful information on the 2014 Conference.
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JUNE: THE CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE WORKING LIFE (CSWL)

Posted on June 26, 2013 by The Old Grey Fox

CSWL: Launch & Introduction

UnknownThe new Centre ~ CSWL ~ has been approved by the Academic Board of Birkbeck University of London as a School-level body in the School of Business, Economics & Informatics. It was officially launched on Tuesday 25th June as part of Birkbeck’s Business Week 2013. The CSWL project now enters its second phase which must focus on establishing its position in the College and building up its funding and staffing.

Following an introduction by Professor Philip Powell, Dean of the School of Business , Economics & Informatics, I presented a Keynote address on Sustainable Working Life in which I discussed the nature and history of the concept of sustainability in relation to work and working life and then introduced the new Centre. In doing so, I reviewed its initial Programme of Research.

image_miniMy Keynote was followed by a Panel Discussion modelled on the BBC’s Question Time. It was chaired by Professor Phillip Dewe, Vice Master of Birkbeck, who also provided concluding comments at the end of the event, see: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/news/birkbeck-launches-new-centre-for-sustainable-working-life.

The Panel members included Declan Cunningham (EHS Executive Primark Group), Dr Malgozrata Milczarek (European Agency for Safety & Health at Work), Dr Juliet Hassard (CSWL) and Ceri Jones (CSWL). I joined the Panel to talk about CSWL’s involvements in the METIS Collaboration and in pharmaco-safety. Together the members of the Panel covered a range of issues relating to the Centre’s collaborations in areas such as: cancer survivorship and working life, safety culture in the retail sector, good practice in health and safety management, and pharmaco-safety. The session was well attended and the various discussions developed in a lively manner for over an hour.

The launch of CSWL was followed by the Alec Roger Memorial Lecture which was given by Professor David MacLeod (see below). It was also well attended. There was then be a Reception with nibbles and drinks. The VIPs then retired to the Charlotte Street Hotel for dinner which was immensely enjoyable and eventually closed out just short of midnight.

Early and varied feedback suggested that the whole day was a success. Our thanks must go to Rose Devaney, Radhika Karkhanis and their colleagues and also to Professor Linda Trenberth for their good work in organising the launch.
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