Workers at laboratories are being put at risk of infection because of missing information on specimen request forms. If specimen request forms do not provide sufficient clinical information, then laboratory staff cannot identify the appropriate safety measures they need to apply to control exposure and possible infection. HSE investigations have confirmed several occasions when workers have been exposed to pathogens capable of causing severe disease. Dutyholders should ensure that: - specimen request forms contain all relevant clinical information
- laboratory staff act on clinical information provided
- record-keeping and IT systems are fit for purpose
Read the safety notice on the risk of exposure to biological agents for full details Delivering occupational health research in government - an important front line service? HSE has a proud history of undertaking occupational health research, either by funding others or using its in-house capability. In this lecture, HSEâs Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Andrew Curran will review over 100 years of occupational health research by government and consider if this capability should be considered as an important front-line service. Watch the Lane lecture on YouTube HSE has published its Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) document, which details our forward-looking research priorities The ARIs document details the priorities which help to ensure, within an ever-changing world, that HSE remains a modern, enabling regulator, within one of the most successful health and safety systems in the world. We are keen to ensure that we are connected to other organisations and to identify specific topics of shared interest and work that aligns to our needs. Our ARIs document enables other organisations to see the 'big' questions that we would like to answer, and to consider if we could join up activity and achieve more together. Download and read the ARIs document on HSE's website A world of risk: the unheard voices and what we can learn from them The Thomas Ashton Institute draws on the combined knowledge and experience of University of Manchester and HSE to deliver research, learning and regulatory insights to enable a better working world. In this lecture, Dr Ruth Boumphrey offers fascinating insights into risk perception and the importance of diverse perspectives. She discusses how the world perceives risk, and how data is being used to help make the world a safer place. Watch the Thomas Ashton Institute lecture on YouTube | 
