This release presents statistics on work-related illness and workplace injuries in Great Britain, for the period 2007/08.

The key facts for 2007/08 are:

Ill health

• 2.1 million people were suffering from an illness (long standing as well as new cases) they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work.
• 1.3 million of these cases were suffered by people working during the year, of which 563 000 were new cases.
• 2 056 people died of mesothelioma (2006), and thousands more from other occupational cancers and lung diseases.

Injuries

• 229 workers were killed at work, a rate of 0.8 per 100 000 workers.
• 136 771 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR, a rate of 517.9 per 100 000 employees.
• 299 000 reportable injuries occurred, according to the Labour Force Survey (LFS), a rate of 1000 per 100 000 workers

Working days lost

• 34 million days were lost overall (1.4 days per worker), 28 million due to work-related ill health and 6 million due to workplace injury.

Health and safety targets: progress to 2007/08

• Ill health: probably not on track to meet Revitalising target.
• Fatal and major injuries: on track to meet Revitalising target.
• Days lost per worker: probably not on track to meet Revitalising target.

Enforcement

• 1 028 offences were prosecuted by HSE.
• 354 offences were prosecuted by local authorities.

Coverage: Great Britain

Geographical breakdown: Great Britain, England, Wales, Scotland Government Office Regions and Local Authorities

As last year, the release includes a pocket-sized booklet providing headline figures and commentary supported by a range of material on the Statistics website.

If you would like to obtain a hard copy of the pocket sized booklet, please e-mail statisticsrequestteam@hse.gsi.gov.uk or Telephone 0151 951 3392/4697; Fax 0151 951 4703.

NB There is a limited print run of the booklet and requests are strictly on a first come first served basis.