Although women cope differently with menopause, severe menopause symptoms can greatly affect their wellbeing.
The average age of natural menopause is 51 years but can occur much earlier or later. Menopause occurring before the age of 45 is called early menopause and before the age of 40 is premature menopause. Late menopause may also occur but by the age of 54, 80% of women will have stopped having periods.
Generally, women having early or premature menopause are advised to take HRT until approximately the average age of the menopause, for both symptom control and bone protective effect.
Some women are not prepared for the onset of menopause and its symptoms. It would be great to provide further information to employers and employees. Get in touch if you need support.
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Menopause in the workplace
The Women and Equalities committee set up an inquiry into menopause in the workplace and the extent to which women with menopausal symptoms suffer discrimination in the workplace. The recommendations are expected in 2022 and this could lead to changes to the Equality Act 2022.
It may be beneficial, if you haven’t already done so, to subscribe to the HSE news and updates link – HSE: Latest news on health and safety at work
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October marks a critical shift in the year. With darker evenings, cooler temperatures, and seasonal moisture, risks increase—but there’s also a strong opportunity to reinforce company culture and sustainability initiatives.
Key Focus Areas and Relevant UK Campaigns:
– Slips, Trips & Falls: Wet leaves and rain heighten outdoor hazard risks. Prioritise cleaning schedules, consider gritting walkways when needed, and reinforce appropriate footwear policies.
– Lighting Assessments: With days getting shorter, audits of external and emergency lighting help prevent accidents and bolster productivity.
– Equipment & Vehicle Checks: Drier and colder conditions can stress machinery and vehicles—proactive servicing reduces downtime and improves safety.
2. Mental Health Awareness
– World Mental Health Day – 10 October: This international observance offers a timely prompt to emphasise that mental wellbeing is integral to workplace safety. Encourage open dialogue, provide stress-related training for managers, and remind staff of available support services.
3. Environmental Responsibility
– Recycle Week 2025 – 14–20 October: Organised by WRAP, the theme “Rescue Me! Recycle” encourages better recycling habits across the UK (https://www.wearedisrupt.co.uk/event/recycle-week-2025). This makes it a perfect opportunity to launch or reinvigorate internal recycling campaigns, educate your team on proper segregation, and share WRAP toolkits and resources.
Why This Matters
October sets the stage for effective year-end HSE performance. Tying seasonal risks to mental health awareness and environmental action creates a compelling, multi-faceted blog that positions you as both proactive and socially responsible.
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Next week (9–15 June) is Men’s Health Week, and it’s a great opportunity for us to take a moment to reflect on how we look after ourselves and each other—physically and mentally.
Men’s health is often overlooked or quietly pushed aside, but it’s something we all need to take seriously. This year’s theme encourages small steps toward better health—whether that’s getting more active, checking in on stress, or just having open conversations.
Companies should consider sharing a few useful tips and resources around their departments:
It’s not about big changes—just small actions that make a real difference.
Let’s keep the conversation going. If anyone has ideas or wants to share resources or activities during the week, feel free to get involved!
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May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to bring mental well-being to the forefront of workplace health and safety conversations. While physical safety has long been a cornerstone of health and safety strategies, psychological safety is now rightly gaining equal attention. Employers have a legal and moral duty to address mental health as part of a safe working environment.
Why Mental Health Matters at Work
Mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression are among the leading causes of absence from work in the UK. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), over 17 million working days were lost in 2023 due to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety.
Unchecked, poor mental health can also increase the likelihood of workplace accidents due to decreased concentration, fatigue, and poor decision-making.
Legal Responsibilities
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers have a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety, and welfare of their employees – and this includes mental health.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 further require employers to assess and manage risks to employees’ health, which includes psychosocial risks such as workload pressure, harassment, or lack of support.
Practical Steps Employers Can Take
Spotlight on Action: Telford Businesses Leading the Way
Several businesses in Telford are already integrating mental health into their safety cultures. Companies have prioritised employee well-being, offering flexible working, mindfulness sessions, and in-house mental health champions.
Conclusion
Mental health is just as vital as physical health when it comes to building a safe, productive, and resilient workforce. This May, use Mental Health Awareness Month as a springboard to embed sustainable mental health practices in your workplace.
A healthy mind supports a safer workplace—and that’s a win for everyone.
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Working Minds campaign will now target HGV drivers and their bosses to promote good mental health whilst at work. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) on Thursday 10 August joins as a campaign partner.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) view is that more needs to be done to protect Britain’s truckers from work-related stress.
Long hours away from home, demanding delivery times and limited access to toilets and showers are common causes of stress for drivers.
As part of the campaign, when safe to do so, drivers can text “BeAMate” for free confidential health support 24/7 – a service provided by Working Minds campaign partner, Mates in Mind.
Material and advice from the Working Minds campaign for drivers and employers can be found here.
Mental health charity Mind revealed 30 per cent of work-related illness in the transport and logistics sector is due to stress, depression, and anxiety. One in four HGV drivers will experience mental health issues at some point throughout the year.*
Talking about mental health can be a struggle for many people, especially men, who make up 80 per cent of our industry’s workforce. Due to the stigma surrounding mental health, 95 per cent of workers calling in sick due to stress give a different reason to their manager. Mind also reports that 22 per cent of workers have been diagnosed with a mental health problem, but less than half have told their manager.*
Elizabeth Goodwill, from the HSE’s Stress and Mental Health Policy Team said: “HGV drivers keep the country and our economy moving. It’s therefore vital employers meet their legal duty to ensure risks of stress and mental ill health are factored into risk assessments.
“Initiatives such as ‘BeAMate’ are helpful for people needing individual help, but we would like to see more focus on preventing work-related stress at an organisational level, to stop it developing into poor mental health. We look forward to working with the Road Haulage Association and Mates in Mind to provide employers with the help they need to protect and support drivers.
Michelle Upson, a lorry driver who has been in the industry for more than three decades said: “I’d say there is a mental health problem in the industry. Especially for the guys up the road all week and without their families – it is a lot tougher for them.
“Most of the workforce is men and the age demographic is still high. I think they are less likely to talk about their mental health problems so promoting it is a good thing.”
HSE and the Working Minds campaign warns that the scale of work-related stress across the economy has increased in recent years. Stress, depression or anxiety is now the number one cause of work-related ill-health in Great Britain.
Within the transportation and storage sector as a whole (which includes road haulage), around four in ten cases of work-related ill-health are due to stress, depression or anxiety.
Text “BeAMate”: If you or someone you know needs help or support, you can use our “BeAMate” text support service. To use the service, simply text “BeAMate” to 85258 and trained volunteers can help with issues including anxiety, stress, loneliness or depression and are available 24/7.
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