The present picture

In this chart deaths from fatal injury (accidents) at work are compared with those from work-related ill health caused by exposure to substances, including chemicals and dusts. Some diseases result from exposures that happened many years ago, known as long latency diseases and are only causing deaths now - compared to the figures showing accidents which are happening now and have an immediate consequence.

It is currently estimated that:

• A considerable amount of people, perhaps as many as 4,000 die each year from work-related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a disease that can result from breathing in too much of a variety of dusts and fumes such as respirable crystalline silica or welding fumes;
• There are approximately 6000 deaths for cancer each year, around 4000 of which are related to breathing in asbestos.
• There are around 8400 new cases of contact dermatitis per year;
• There are roughly 1700 new cases of occupational asthma each year.

DRP is aiming to achieve a reduction in the number of cases of ill health from chemicals and substances and is working in partnership with Local Authorities, Businesses, Trade Unions and Trade Associations to enable them to protect workers from ill health caused by substances, including chemicals and dusts. There are simple things that businesses can do to prevent and control this and by following good control practice can reduce ill health.