Nominations for the 2020/21 MSD Design Awards.

HSE’s Annual musculoskeletal risk reduction through design awards 2020/21 are now open for nominations. Last time round we received nominations from employers in railways, construction, transport and logistics, manufacturing, utilities & health care settings
We would like to broaden this to cover a wide range of industry sectors and workplace settings this year and wish to welcome and encourage entries from all sectors of the workplace. I
In practice, MSDs don’t restrict themselves to just a few sectors – they are widely spread out across the vast majority of  work place sectors.
There are no restrictions on the size of the employer who may make a nomination and both large and small employers are welcome – small scale /low cost solutions are just as welcome as large scale/high cost design solutions.

Nominations can be sent to: msdpp@hse.gov.uk  and details of how to enter can be found on the HSE website

The closing date is 31^st January 2021.

Free flu vaccines for Health & Social Care Workers

Public Health England (PHE) have launched a campaign  encouraging staff working across health and social care to get their free flu vaccine.
This year, with circulation of coronavirus, flu vaccination is more important than ever, with the largest ever flu   vaccination programme being planned.
The vaccine protects you, your family and those you care for from the flu.

Visit  to order a range of free resources including flyers, posters and stickers to encourage your colleagues to get vaccinated. If you order as soon as possible delivery will arrive at your service this month. PHE website

Brexit: Transition period.

The UK has now left the EU. The transition period is in place while the EU and UK negotiate new arrangements for a trade deal. It will end on 31 December 2020.

Your responsibility to protect the health and safety of people   affected by your work activities remain the same during the  transition period.

The guidance health and safety made simple: the basics for your organisation will help you to comply with the law.

You should continue to manage risk in your organisation in a proportionate way. Guidance

Managing upper limb disorders in the workplace
A brief guide
This revised leaflet for employers deals with upper limb  disorders (ULDs) which affect the shoulders, arms, wrists, hands and fingers, as well as the neck.

It explains:

• what upper limb disorders;
• their symptoms and causes;
• how to manage the risks around them;

what employers can do to help their workers.

It now includes a simple filter to help identify low-risk tasks which do not need further assessment.

The main messages about the actions employers and     workers should take to prevent risks have altered very little since the previous 2013 version.
There is no change in policy or regulation.
INDG171(rev 3) published Jan 2020.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its annual assessment of health and social care in England.

The state of health care and adult social care in England 2018/19 maintains that, overall; the quality of care across
England is improving slightly though the care sector is one of continual challenge..Read

CQC fine two unregistered providers £4000 each for providing services.
CQC has issued fixed penalty  notices to Helping Hands Care Services LLP and TD Homecare Services Limited, both in Freshwater, Isle of Wight after admitted providing care services while unregistered.
Helping Hands Care Services LLP from 23 October 2017 to 5 November 2016 and TD Homecare Service Limited from 18 July 2018 to 17 May 2019

It is an offence under the Health & Social Care Act 2008 to carry out a regulated activity – in this case, providing personal care – without being registered with CQC.
Read