Research and analysis

HPR volume 10 issue 13: news (1 April)

Updated 16 December 2016

1. HSE Annual Science Review 2016

The several components of scientific research activity carried out by the Health and Safety Executive that include a significant public health dimension are illustrated in the Executive’s recently published first Annual Science Review [1].

The main part of the new report comprises case studies illustrating the Executive’s work in researching the causes of – and the most effective interventions to reduce the risk of – health problems arising from workplace exposures. This encompasses not only medical issues but also research into behavioural, occupational hygiene, engineering control and personal protective equipment aspects of prevention and control.

Four case studies are concerned with work-related respiratory disease, including details of a multidisciplinary project to develop a standard of care to support action on work-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is noted that the occupational contribution to COPD prevalence in the UK is 10-15% of the total 900,000 diagnosed cases. The standard of care – comprising practical advice on exposure control, surveillance for early cases and appropriate lung function testing in occupational settings – aims to help reduce, over time, this burden of preventable disease.

Other case studies related to work-related respiratory disease cover: guidance to help the early diagnosis and management of silicosis; understanding the personal cost of occupational lung disease; an investigation into asthma health surveillance in workplaces where there is exposure to flour, wood dust or isocyanate paints; and a study carried out by HSE’s Centre for Workplace Health into the physical, financial, psychological and social harm caused to otherwise healthy people by occupational lung disease.

Also covered by case study reports are:

• legal prosecutions that have drawn on expert evidence provided by HSE scientists and engineers
• control of exposure to dust and bioaerosols at materials recycling facilities
• validation of a new lightweight protective system for workers responding to releases of chemical and/or biological agents
• ‘nudging’ behavioural change in occupational health and safety

1.1 Reference

1. Health and Safety Executive (March 2015). Annual Science Review.

2. NHSBT selective screening for hepatitis E

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for the provision of a safe and secure blood supply for England and North Wales. A range of measures are in place reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections, including donor selection and donation testing.

Recommendations which result in major changes to blood donor selection or screening are usually proposed by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO). During 2015 SaBTO reviewed the available data on the epidemiology of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in blood donors and the potential for transfusion-transmission of this infection resulting in harm to an immunosuppressed recipient [1]. Following this review SaBTO recommended, as a precautionary measure, the provision of HEV screened blood components for use in solid organ and stem cell transplant patients. In addition SaBTO wrote to doctors and patient groups to raise awareness of the potential risk from HEV infection in immunosuppressed patients and the possible sources of HEV, including blood and blood products and diet.

All four UK blood services will provide HEV-screen negative components for these susceptible patient groups. In NHSBT only a proportion of donations will be tested for HEV and this will depend on demand. If a donation is found to contain HEV RNA the donor will be suspended, contacted by NHSBT and given appropriate advice. As with other notifiable infections, NHSBT plans to inform the local health protection units of any donors with confirmed hepatitis E infection.

2.1 Reference

1. Hewitt PE, Ijaz S, Brailsford SR, Brett R, Dicks S, Haywood B, et al (2014). Hepatitis E virus in blood components: a prevalence and transmission study in southeast England. Lancet. 384 (9956): 1766-73.

3. Vaccine-preventable disease reports in this issue of HPR

The following two vaccine-preventable disease reports are published in this issue of HPR. The links below are to the relevant webpage collections:

• Diphtheria in England and Wales: 2015
• Tetanus in England and Wales: 2015.