Don't put your foot in it
Workplace footwear has been under the spotlight recently following the TUC's suggestions that risk assessments shouldbe carried out on women wearing heels to work. At the annual TUC conference in September 2009, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists revealved that a staggering 2 million working days are lost every year from injuries caused by high heels such as bunions, trapped nerves or even more serious problems such as spinal injuries. The society urges employers to regulate the footwear of their staff? For further reading see 'Working feet and footwear: health and safety at work guidance': www.tuc.org.uk/extras/footwear.pdf
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 states that where there is a risk of harm as a result of the working environment, an employer must risk assess and identify ways of reducing that risk to the lowest level. ND Training run programmes to help; CIEH Level 2 Health & Safety in the Workplace and CIEH Level 2 Principles of Risk Assessment.