Sickness absence
Around 28% of sickness absence cannot be justified on health grounds, with poor motivation at work believed to be the leading cause, along with childcare needs, absence perceived as an entitlement and revenge for perceived mistreatment at work. This is one of the findings in the second part of the Occupational Health [at Work] survey of OH professional
practice.
If you do not subscribe to Occupational Health [at Work], individual copies of the survey can be purchased at the price of £45 + VAT. Please e-mail info@atworkpartnership.co.uk for more information.

Corporate manslaughter
The Crown Prosecution Service is bringing the first charge of corporate manslaughter under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 (CMCH) against Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings Limited.

Opt-out reprieved
Plans to end the opt-out from the Working Time Directive (93/104/EC; as revised by EC/2003/88) have again failed. Talks broke down between negotiators for the EU Parliament and the Council of Ministers on curtailing the opt-out, which allows workers to waive their right to limit weekly working hours to 48, and on revising provisions dealing with on-call time and multiple contracts.

Driving  
The Police Federation has claimed that driving when tired is the biggest killer of police officers in England and Wales. It says that since 2000 more than 40 officers have died while driving to or from work.

Alarms for nurses
Around 30,000 NHS employees working alone are being given personal security alarms. The devices use location-based service technology to help locate the user. 

Pandemic flu
Guidance for employers on preparing for a flu pandemic is published by The Faculty of Occupational Medicine. It includes basic facts about the disease, infection control and treatment, and advice on coping with the operational consequences of a pandemic.
www.facoccmed.ac.uk

Healthcare workers with dermatitis
Better education for healthcare workers about treatment for dermatitis and the risk it poses for bacterial growth on the skin is needed, according to guidance from the NHS Plus Occupational Health Clinical Effectiveness Unit.
www.nhsplus.nhs.uk

Combat PTSD
Military personnel with poorer mental or physical health prior to combat deployment are more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder, US research reveals. The findings are based on a longitudinal study of over 5,000 servicemen and women without PTSD symptoms at the start of the study.
www.bmj.com

NHS Plus appoints quality director
Dr Charlie Vivian is the new director of quality for the NHS OH provider NHS Plus. Vivian will lead the development of a quality and governance model to assist NHS OH departments in delivering high quality services to NHS staff and customers.

High Court backs NICE over chronic fatigue guidance
ME sufferers have failed in their legal challenge over guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on treatment for people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) – also known as myalgic encephalitis (ME).
Fraser R, Short K, v National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. [2009] EWHC Admin (452)
www.bailii.org

Equality Bill
The Equality Bill has received its second reading and, unless there is an early general election, should become law in spring 2010, and in force by the autumn.