Working safely and well

Health and safety at work

In all workplaces, health and safety is important, whether you work at a desk, drive for work, support people in the community or work with machinery. Health and safety legislation requires your employer to provide you with the necessary advice, training, clothing, and equipment to minimise the risk to your health from any tasks you are required to perform.

Some examples:

  • There are legal limits on the amount of weight any worker can be expected to lift without mechanical assistance.
  • Provision of a rest break during their working day if an employee works for 6 hours or more.
  • Employers must protect workers from the health risks of working with display screen equipment (DSE), such as PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations apply to workers who use DSE daily, for continuous periods of an hour or more.

If an employer fails to follow these rules, they can be prosecuted.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) offers advice on safe working practices for employers and their employees.

If you're finding any physical aspects of your work challenging because of your arthritis or related condition, it is important you discuss this with someone at your workplace. This could be your line manager, Health and Safety rep, human resources, or union rep. Once you have made your employer aware of your health issues, they are obliged to work with you to minimise any difficulties you face. They
are also required to protect your confidentiality.

Your employer may arrange for you to have a Health and Safety or Occupational Health assessment, or both. This can help them understand what changes, if any, need to be implemented to ensure you can continue to work safely. As well as ensuring you can carry out tasks safely. There may be key considerations such as emergency evacuation procedures and planning to support you to leave the building in an emergency.

There is also a lot that you can do to help yourself at work when you have arthritis, including managing your health, planning, and pacing your work, as well as trying to stay as active as you feel able to.

Regularly moving throughout the day is good for your health.

Whether you are in a physically demanding role or sedentary, being aware of how it impacts on your musculoskeletal health is important. Follow HSE health and safety guidance to ensure you do not cause undue strain on your body.

Having poor posture can have a negative impact on your joint health and cause additional pain. It is important to stand, sit and bend in the correct positions so that you don't put undue strain on muscles, ligaments, and joints.

Keeping ourselves active when living with a painful condition can seem challenging. With our busy lifestyles it is sometimes hard to find time to take up activities and exercise regularly. Building in some movement and stretching into your work routine can make a difference to how we feel.

Planning ahead, pacing yourself and prioritising tasks can greatly help you get the most important aspects of your work done, and preserve your energy levels.

Find what works for you, our section on Physical Activity offers stretching and exercise activities to suit all abilities. You can also sign up for Let’s Move – a free programme for people with arthritis who want more movement in their lives. Our Let’s Move initiative is designed to find the level of movement that’s right for you and build confidence in your body.

Something as simple as doing some stretches or going for a walk during your lunch break can help you feel better.

Physically demanding jobs may pose particular challenges and obstacles for people with arthritis or related conditions. Not all jobs are desk-based, many workers carry out manual or physical activities as part of their work, for example:

  • Lifting weights.
  • Climbing ladders or stairs
  • Pushing/pulling objects
  • Doing tasks which involve bending, kneeling, or squatting
  • Carrying out tasks with repetitive actions
  • Using power tools
  • Providing personal care and support to people
  • Standing or sitting for long periods
  • Driving large vehicles or long distances
  • Working outdoors in all weather.

For some, the impact of their condition might mean they find these tasks increasingly difficult and can no longer carry out this type of work. Others may have to consider how some aspects of their role can be adapted to enable them to continue working.

In whatever job you do, the fitter and healthier you are the better you'll be able to do your job, and cope with any physical aspects of it. Having a healthy diet and lifestyle, and building in some activity into your routine, will help you manage your condition and improve your ability to do your job well.

Driving and commuting

If you hold a current driving licence and develop arthritis that affects your driving, speak with your doctor. You must also inform the Drivers Medical Group at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The DVLA has more information about driving with a medical condition.

It's unlikely that a person with arthritis would be asked to take another driving test simply because of the impact of their condition, but you may be issued with a licence for a shorter period or need to adapt your car with special controls. If your doctor tells you to stop driving because of your medical condition, you must surrender your licence to the DVLA. Check out further information on driving and arthritis.

If you need your car for work, you may be able to apply to Access to Work for funding to adjust your car. Alternatively, if you are unable to drive and find it difficult to use public transport, AtW may consider support such as a travel buddy, driver, or taxis to take you to and from work or with work-related travel.

Whether this affects you all the time or only when your condition fluctuates, you can apply to AtW for assistance.

Working safely

Health and safety, H&S, within the workplace is everyone’s business.  Employers have a duty to provide a safe work environment. This includes managing risks and taking practical steps to protect workers and others from harm. In order to protect yourself and others, employees must ensure they adhere to any H&S policies and procedures within the workplace.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to improve work safety and prevent work-related death, injury, and ill health. 

While working with a long-term health condition or a disability is not essentially a health and safety risk, there may be changes needed to some tasks or procedures to ensure you can work safely.

Whether your health condition is work-related or not, your employer will want to ensure that they are complying with the law and protecting their workforce.  Employers have a duty to consult with their employees (whether directly or through their representatives) on issues relating to health and safety.

If you are living with a long-term health condition that is impacting on your ability to work safely, speak with your employer, line manager or other workplace professional.

Help them to help you work well

HSE provides a wealth of information and guidance to employers and workers.  We have included a few to help you understand how you can look after your musculoskeletal health and work safely.

Many employees will be a member of a trade union; officials are often called to support with issues relating to health and safety. Your trade union rep will have undertaken a range of training to ensure they are knowledgeable about a range of issues including; health and safety, inclusive working practices and support for disabled staff.  

TUC – Trade union congress  offers information on health, safety, and wellbeing at work. If you are having specific problems at work, you should seek individual advice from your union or a qualified adviser.  

STUC Scottish Trade union congress are useful sources of information and signposting.  

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions represent trade union members in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. 

OSHA - The European agency for health and safety at work has a wealth of useful resources from data, research reports to short, animated videos.   

Napo, is the character in a series of short, animated films on the OSHA website. It is aimed at promoting good working practices. The videos provide discussion-provoking introductions to occupational safety and health (OSH) topics and risk prevention. Napo is depicted as a typical worker in any industry or sector. Often, he is exposed to common hazards and risky situations in the workplace. However, he is actively involved in identifying risks and providing practical solutions. 

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