Washing Hands in Cold Water ‘As Good As Hot’

US scientists say they have poured cold water on the theory that washing hands with hot water kills more germs than unheated water. The small study of 20 people found using water at 15C (59F) left hands as clean as water heated to 38C (100F) . The report, in the Journal of Food Protection, suggests this could help cut electricity bills in restaurants. NHS advice recommends that people wash their hands in either cold or warm water.

Annual Sickness Absence Rates Show Little Change

Overall sickness absence rates have remained largely unchanged in the last year, at 2.3%, the manufacturers’ organisation EEF has concluded. In its latest annual Sickness Absence Benchmark it said the average number of days lost to sickness absence per employee declined slightly in 2016, to 5.2 days.  Although both manual and non-manual employees had seen a drop in days lost to absence, manual workers continue to exhibit higher rates of sick leave, with an average of 6.1 days lost compared to nearly half that number for non-manual employees (3.1 days).

Firefighters Exposed to Extreme Heat Risk Heart Attack

The study researchers at the University of Edinburgh and published in the journal Circulation, could explain why cardiovascular events – such as heart attacks – are the leading cause of death among on-duty firefighters, according to the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research. The study has recommended that fire services help to reduce the number of firefighters suffering heart attacks by limiting the time individuals spend tackling a blaze, as well as helping them to cool down and rehydrate after exposure. The study randomly selected 19 non-smoking, healthy firefighters from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to participate in two exercises at least a week apart, including a fire simulation and a control exposure.

Workplace Wellbeing Worse In The Public Sector

Mind surveyed 12,000 employees across both sectors and found a higher prevalence of mental health issues in the public sector, as well as a lack of support available when people speak up.  Nearly twice the number of public sector respondents said their mental health was poor than their peers in the private sector (15% versus 9%), and felt anxious at work on more occasions over the last month (53% compared to 43%).

Six Potential Summer Employment Issues

1. Maximum office temperature
2. Unauthorised time off
3. Summer dress code
4. Competing summer holiday requests
5. Late return from summer holiday
6. Summer work experience

E-Cigarettes In The Workplace: A Guide An Employer’s Guide to Vaping

The use of electronic cigarettes, or “vaping” as it is often described, has grown quickly in the past five years and about 2.8 million adults in Great Britain now “vape”.  The vast majority of these are smokers or ex-smokers, but concerns remain about whether or not vaping might normalise smoking, particularly among young people.  The rapid growth in e-cigarette use is an issue for the workplace, and employers need to consider its impact on both existing smoking policies and cessation programmes.

Half of Brits Walk Less Than A Mile A Day

Around a third (32%) of adults said a lack of time puts them off walking more while a quarter (25%) are deterred by bad weather. According to Cancer Research UK, regularly doing exercise like brisk walking could help prevent around 3,400 cases of cancer in the UK each year.

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