The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have co-funded research to analyse the risk of workplace injury arising from common health conditions treated by taking prescribed medication. It is well known that these medications can cause side effects, such as drowsiness or poor concentration, which may put workers at increased risk of an accident.
IOSH recognised the importance of these issues and wanted to better understand the risk of workplace injury arising from common health conditions treated by taking prescribed medications.
Research Summary
The research, conducted by the University of Southampton, analysed a sample of 8,000 anonymous medical records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). They conclude that there is a moderate elevation of risk with some forms of physical and mental ill-health and their associated medications, but no case exists for a blanket exclusion of such individuals on health grounds.
Kate Field, head of information and intelligence at IOSH, underscored the importance of employers taking “steps to ensure risks to individuals and others are effectively managed”.
She added: “Good rehabilitation processes and a return-to-work plan with a focus on the individual can manage the process very effectively but we have lacked direct evidence of the risk of workplace accidents from physical and mental ill-health and associated medicines … the research by the University of Southampton provides new, robust, evidenced-based data on the risks.”
You can find more information or read the full report at www.iosh.co.uk/medication
