E083:06 03 August 2006
A report published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today's shows that an estimated two million British workers suffer ill health, which they believe was caused or made worse by work.
The Self reported Work-related Illness survey 2004/2005 indicates that of the two million around 600,000 workers were affected by the illness for the first time in the last year. These figures equated to around 28 million working days lost to the British economy every year.
HSE Chief Executive Geoffrey Podger said, "28 million days is a huge loss to the British economy. HSE is working with employers, trades unions and other government departments to bring this down. In the past year we have launched Workplace Health Connect and the Government more widely launched it's Health Work and Well Being strategy to keep British workers healthy and in work."
Key cases of ill health include:
In the past 12 months the trend appears to have reversed:
Above average rates for work related illness included health and social welfare, teaching and research professionals and skilled construction and building trades.
The full report can be downloaded from: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/swi/swi0405.pdf
1. The headline figures contained in this report were published by the HSE in the National Statistic 2004/2005 published in November 2005. Available at: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh0405.pdf
2. More information about MSD's and Stress can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/msd/index.htm for MSD's and www.hse.gov.uk/stress/index.htm for Stress.
3. Workplace Health Connect is a service, delivered in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive, which provides confidential, practical and free advice on workplace health and safety issues. It is designed to help tackle and reduce the incidence of work related ill health and injury in England and Wales. A team of highly qualified advisers is available to talk through individual queries on areas ranging from undertaking health and safety risk assessments, through to managing sickness absence or tackling stress or back injuries in the workplace. Further information can be found at www.workplacehealthconnect.co.uk .
4. Later this year HSE, in partnership with local authorities, will be running a national campaign to tackle back pain in the workplace. Better Backs will build on the success of last year's backs campaign and also extend its scope. Running from October, Better Backs will include workplace inspections, mass media advertising and events. The campaign will aim to reduce the incidence of back pain caused or made worse by work, its impact and the number of working days lost due to back pain. The campaign will focus on the holistic approach needed to manage back pain. It will promote sensible workplace precautions that reduce the risk of back pain and emphasise the positive benefits of staying active with back pain. At the same time, it will encourage employers and employees to work together to help people return to normal activities including work.
5. The Health, Work and Well-being Strategy was launched on October 19 last year and is supported by the Scottish Executive and the Wales Assembly Government. It is led by the new National Director for Health and Work, Dame Carol Black. Its main themes are engaging stakeholders and improving working lives and healthcare for working age people. It lays out a blueprint for change, so that work related illness and accidents can be avoided in the first place, but if not ensures people get fast treatment and that they can access occupational health when it is needed. It also puts the emphasis on creating healthy working environments.
All enquiries from journalists should be directed to the HSE Press Office
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