Important News from SignUp

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   Dear CIO Pull-Henning Kamp,
   Re: Important News from SignUp
   The first Press Release is from the Department for Work and Pensions.
   It details a pioneering project established by the Government that
   will test new ways of helping sick workers keep their jobs. Further
   information can be obtained by calling the free phone number 07659
   108883.
   In the second article, Health and Safety Minister Nick Brown, urges
   organizations that use hazardous chemicals to look at ways of
   preventing ill health. He was speaking at the launch of the European
   Week for Safety and Health Action Pack. Requests for action packs can
   be made on the website http://www.hse.gov.uk/euroweek, or by calling
   0800 0850050 / 08701 545500.
   Kind regards,
   The SignUp Team
   Reference:JRRPpres
   Date: 13 March 2003
   DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS: PIONEERING PROJECT COULD STOP SICK
   WORKERS LOSING THEIR JOBS
   A cutting edge project to test new ways of helping sick workers keep
   their jobs is being launched by the Government.
   The research project could provide valuable information to enable
   people to get back to work quickly without losing their current jobs
   and help businesses retain skilled and experienced workers.
   The Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot (JRRP), funded by the
   Department for Work and Pensions in partnership with the Department of
   Health, is set to start on 1 April. It will examine the barriers
   preventing people from a healthy return to work after sick absence and
   try to find ways of overcoming them.
   DWP Work Minister Nick Brown said: Every week people lose their job
   because of health problems. They can then be out of work and relying
   on benefits for years a waste of both human and taxpayers resources.
   This cutting edge initiative could prove a real boost to workers and
   bosses across the U.K. Evidence shows that the earlier people off work
   because of sickness receive help, the better their chance of returning
   to their job.
   The research project will test how extra health and workplace support
   can help people get well again, return to work and keep their jobs. We
   will of course need to carefully evaluate the results to see how
   successful the different pilot models have been.
   Health Minister David Lammy said Existing research does not tell us if
   extra help at work or through the health service will be effective in
   keeping people in their jobs. It makes sense to carry out new research
   so that we can see what works and what doesnt.
   Involving 7,500 selected volunteers, the JRRP will run for two years
   in six pilot areas across the country: Greater Glasgow, Teesside,
   Tyneside, Birmingham, Sheffield and West Kent.
   The innovative project will be open to eligible employed and
   self-employed volunteers who have been off work for between 6 and 26
   weeks. External providers will deliver the pilot under contract.
   Pilot service providers will publicise the research project in each
   area and encourage volunteers, working with health professionals and
   employers.
   For more information phone the free number 07659 108883.
   NOTES TO EDITORS:
   1. People interested in volunteering in the pilot areas will be asked
   to contact a national contact centre and if eligible they will be
   assigned to specific research groups. One group will deal with
   problems in the workplace that may have contributed to the persons ill
   health. Another group will offer extra rehabilitation health care
   services and advice and a third group will provide a combination of
   health care and work-based support. There will also be a fourth group,
   a control group. Participants in all four groups will still have
   access to existing services.
   2. An evaluation report will be produced at the end of the pilot in
   autumn 2005 and the findings will contribute to shaping future policy.
   3. The pilot will operate under the following brand names:
   HealthyReturn (Greater Glasgow)
   WorkCare (Sheffield, Birmingham and West Kent)
   Routeback (Tyneside and Teesside).
   4. The Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot is funded by the
   Department for Work and Pensions in partnership with the Department of
   Health and supported by the Scottish Executive and the Health and
   Safety Executive.
   CONTACT DETAILS:
   Press Office: 0207 238 0866 or 0207 238 0762
   Out of hours: 07659 108883
   Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
   Website: www.dwp.gov.uk
   --------------------------------------------
   E079:03
   19 May 2003
   MINISTER URGES ACTION TO MANAGE HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AT WORK
   Today Health and Safety Minister Nick Brown urged organisations that
   use hazardous chemicals to look at ways of preventing ill health in
   the workplace, including cancers, respiratory diseases and skin
   diseases.
   The Minister visited the Health and Safety Executives (HSE) launch of
   the European Week for Safety and Health Action Pack, at its stand at
   the Safety and Health EXPO in Birmingham on Monday 19 May.
   The free action pack includes a 12 page European Week Newsletter, a
   mini CD ROM, stickers, fact sheets, leaflets and a poster, focusing on
   the theme of this years week, Dangerous Substances, which begins on 13
   October. It is designed to help organisations that use potentially
   harmful chemicals plan an initiative to protect workers health.
   Mr Brown said: This initiative deserves widespread support throughout
   the UK. The European Week for Health and Safety is an opportunity for
   employers, employees and their representatives to look at ways of
   improving their work environment. The misuse of dangerous substances
   and chemicals at work can result in debilitating ill health or even
   cause death.
   This is not just an issue for large firms. Potentially dangerous
   substances are used by many of us in cleaning, hairdressing and motor
   vehicle repair businesses to name just a few. With the right
   prevention and control measures, most of the ill health effects can be
   reduced or eliminated.
   An estimated 6,000 people die from cancer due to occupational causes
   every year and an estimated 66,000 people suffer from new or existing
   skin diseases caused by work - around two thirds have dermatitis or
   eczema.
   In addition 7,000 new cases of asthma are occupationally caused or
   have work as a significant contributing factor, every year with an
   estimated cost over the next 10 years of between £579 million and
   £1,159 million.
   John Thompson, head of HSEs chemicals policy division, said: All this
   is preventable. The majority of the 1.3 million companies covered by
   specific chemical legislation are small and medium sized enterprises.
   Many of these dont think of themselves as using chemicals. They see
   them simply as branded products but they can also be harmful
   chemicals. Others only partially understand what they need to do to
   protect their employees and other people from risks from the use of
   chemicals. Employers, workers and stakeholders can use the week to
   start to make an impact.
   HSE is encouraging participants of the European Safety and Health Week
   to organise campaigns focusing on the weeks theme of dangerous
   substances, and send feedback to HSE.
   Independent evaluation of last years European Week, which focused on
   stress, has revealed that more than half the participants surveyed
   made specific changes to working practices as a result of the week. It
   is estimated that the message reached 6.28 million employees and there
   was a 78 per cent increase in the number of organisations sending for
   action packs.
   Requests for action packs can be made on 0800 0850050 or at
   http:www.hse.gov.uk/euroweek
   Notes to Editors:
   1. This year's Safety & Health Expo 2003 runs from 19-22 May at the
   NEC, Birmingham and takes place alongside the RoSPA Congress. HSE's
   stand is Q40, Hall 12, and the European Agency for Safety and Health
   at Work stand is R30, Hall 12.
   2. The European Week has taken place six times 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000,
   2001 and 2002. HSE has organised seven Health and Safety Weeks
   including the six European Weeks. The Week is part of a wider European
   initiative organised by the European Agency for Safety and Health.
   3. To promote the week in the UK, HSE has formed a European Group
   whose members include: TUC, CBI, The Royal Society for the Prevention
   of Accidents (RoSPA), the Institution of Occupational Safety and
   Health (IOSH), BackCare, British Safety Council, Health and Safety
   Executive of Northern Ireland, Health Education Board for Scotland,
   National Assembly for Wales, Departments of Health, Education and
   Skills, Work and Pensions, European Week 2001, membership was extended
   to include the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland, an
   Environmental Health Officer representing local authorities and
   representatives of the banking and insurance sectors.
   Public Enquiries:
   Call HSE's InfoLine, tel: 08701 545500, or write to: HSE Information
   Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
   Press Enquiries:
   Journalists only: Jan Kemal 020 7717 6902,
   Out of hours 020 7928 8382
   For press review copies telephone 020 7717 6917.
   HSE information and press releases can be accessed on the Internet:
   http://www.hse.gov.uk/
   (If clicking doesn't work, 'Cut' and 'Paste' the line above into your
   Web browser's address bar.)