§ Mr. BurstowTo the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of companies in England he estimates have an occupational health department; and if he will make a statement. [167407]
§ Jane KennedyI have been asked to reply.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) commissioned research by the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) `Survey of Use of Occupational Health Support' published in June 2002 which showed that 3 per cent. of all companies throughout the country provided OH support. The definition of occupational health support used for this purpose is one which includes hazard identification, risk management, provision of information, modifying work activities, training or occupational health-related issues, measuring workplace hazards, monitoring trends in health.