2134/24199
Joanne O. Crawford
Joanne O.
Crawford
Alice Davis
Alice
Davis
Anne Sleeuwenhoek
Anne
Sleeuwenhoek
Ken Dixon
Ken
Dixon
Damien McElvenny
Damien
McElvenny
Fehmidah Munir
Fehmidah
Munir
Hilary McDermott
Hilary
McDermott
Emma Donaldson-Feilder
Emma
Donaldson-Feilder
Occupational safety and health considerations of returning to work after cancer
Loughborough University
2017
Cancer
Health
Return to work
Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere classified
2017-02-23 11:47:03
Report
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/report/Occupational_safety_and_health_considerations_of_returning_to_work_after_cancer/9610493
Increasing numbers of people undergo a return to work (RTW) after a cancer diagnosis and
treatment. Although there is evidence available in relation to managing the RTW process, at the current time, there is limited information available in relation to any safety and health issues associated with this process. Using a systematic review and organisational case studies, this project aimed to understand the health and safety implications of returning to work or staying in work during treatment, to identify what employers can do to facilitate this process for cancer survivors and to develop guidance for IOSH from the work carried out. The systematic review identified that understanding the potential changes in individual capacity (both physical and
mental) are essential, as are the role of the line manager, being able to offer flexibility in returning to work, and understanding that the process can be long term. The case studies aimed to identify good practice and found that different aspects can impact on the RTW or continuation to work, including using risk assessments of work tasks rather than job roles, and considering the impact of physical and psychological demands. Different factors need to be considered within the risk assessment, including the impact of fatigue, risks of infection, work planning and breaks in the working day, the inclusion of emergency planning, and flexibility in
start times or workplace. The work has also highlighted a number of evidence gaps, including: the lack of an evidence base for safety, health or ergonomic interventions; a lack of information in relation to manual workers and their RTW needs; a lack of information on those who have had to change jobs or on their future employability; and a need for more in-depth, longer-term research. Content for an IOSH OH Toolkit on RTW after cancer was also produced as part of this work.