Londoners impacted by construction dust, research shows
Two-thirds of Londoners say they have been impacted by dust or light pollution from a construction site over the past year.
New research from Urban Impact Agency Urban Thinking shows that 66% of people living in the capital say they have been impacted at least once in the last year, with 8% saying they were impacted weekly or more.
Inhaling construction dust can be hazardous to your health, including significantly raising the risk of diseases such as lung cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Light pollution can contribute to poor mental health, raising the likelihood of developing anxiety, stress or sleeping disorders – and can even increase the risk of obesity and diabetes.
Read more on the HSM website.
Navigating eye drop use during Ramadan
An information campaign has been launched by Glaucoma UK in partnership with the British Islamic Medical Association and the Muslim Council of Britain.
Glaucoma UK has launched an information campaign on eye drop use during Ramadan in partnership with the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) and the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).
The campaign is encouraging glaucoma patients who observe Ramadan to continue using eye drops as part of their routine, with an illustrated poster for optical professionals to display in practice available for download on the Glaucoma UK website.
In the UK, Ramadan is expected to run from 28 February to 30 March – with the exact dates dependent on the sighting of the moon.
Glaucoma UK highlighted that according to most Islamic scholars, using eye drops does not break the fast.
Punctal occlusion can be used to ensure that the eye drop medication does not reach the throat.
Glaucoma UK chief executive, Joanne Creighton, highlighted that the charity is dedicated to supporting Muslims to observe Ramadan without putting their sight at risk.
Learn more on the AOP website.
Major advance for workplace safety in Bangladesh
IOSH is delighted to announce a new initiative that will play a major role in creating and sustaining a safety culture in Bangladeshi factories. The non-profit organisation Nirapon has agreed an extensive programme of collaboration with IOSH.
Nirapon, which works with global brands, retailers, manufacturers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), will enrol its team on the IOSH Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health Leadership and Management. The qualification will strengthen Nirapon’s expertise, enabling its staff to provide better support to factories in implementing safety management systems. It will also contribute to Nirapon’s effectiveness in promoting a safety culture across Bangladesh.
For more on the collaboration visit the IOSH website.
Research highlights poor attitudes to health and safety
Those working in the construction sector are perceived as having the worst attitudes towards workplace health and safety, according to 37% of health and safety professionals.
New research, conducted by RRC International, a leading provider of occupational health and safety training, found that nearly two fifths of health and safety professionals identified the construction sector as having the poorest attitude to health and safety. This was followed by the manufacturing industry (12.93%) and then agriculture, forestry and fishing (5.17%).
According to data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the construction sector consistently reports a high number of fatal injuries, with a rate of 2.4 per 100,000 workers in 2023/24. This is five times higher than any other industry. The data also showed that 470,000 people suffered non-fatal injuries on construction sites over the past three years. This is more than 150,000 per year.
Visit the HSM website to read more.
To keep up to date with the latest health & safety news and advice, follow us on social media: