Costs of injuries and ill health

Over the last two decades, HSE has periodically published estimates of the aggregate costs of workplace injuries and ill health, not including less common work related conditions such as cancer. The most recent interim update was in 2004 (giving figures for 2001/02). Unit costs, (HSE's Appraisal Values) for different types of injury and ill health have been published separately, for use in impact assessments (valuing benefits from HSE interventions). Up to now the methodologies for producing aggregate and unit costs have not been fully consistent.

HSE commissioned new research in 2009 to review and update the previous costing methodology. The research involved an external contractor (Risk Solutions) working with a number of leading academics in the field, including independent peer review, and with significant input from HSE economists and statisticians. This produced a new costs model which provided the basis for cost estimates for years up to 2009/10. Aggregate costs and unit costs are now calculated in a single integrated model, giving estimates of the appraisal values for 2006/07 onwards that are fully consistent with the aggregate cost estimates.

Unlike previous estimates, the new cost model aims to reflect the economic costs of workplace fatalities, workplace injuries, and new cases of work-related ill health associated with current working conditions (previous cost estimates also included the costs of cases arising from historic working conditions). However, as with previous estimates, it has not been possible to include some less common work-related illness conditions such as cancer, which we expect to be substantial.

More details on the latest results, their underlying methods and improvements versus previous estimates can be found in the following documents:

• Economic cost of workplace fatalities, injuries and ill health 2010/11
• Detailed report of the methods used to estimate economic costs
• Breakdown of costs over the period 2006/07 to 2010/11
• Short description of the methods used to estimate economic costs

Economic Analysis Unit (EAU) appraisal values

This document presents the latest update of the HSE's economic Appraisal Values. The Appraisal Values can be used to value the benefits of proposed measures which aim to improve occupational health and safety, and to compare such benefits with the cost of government intervention.

• EAU Appraisal values