Health and Safety Executive

Table TYPESEX2E - 2001/02

Estimated incidence of self-reported illness caused or made worse by work, by type of illness and gender, for people ever employed.

Gender Type of complaint Sample cases Estimated incidence (thousands) for people ever employed
central 95% C.I.
lower upper
Males Bone, joint or muscle problem 271 129 114 145
  mainly affects the upper limbs or neck 102 48 39 57
  mainly affects the lower limbs 54 26 19 32
  mainly affects the back 115 56 45 66
Breathing or lung problem 43 20 14 26
Skin problem 19 * * *
Hearing problem 8 * * *
Stress, depression or anxiety 240 113 99 127
Headache and/or eyestrain 24 12 7 16
Heart disease/attack, other circulatory system 22 10 6 15
Infectious disease (virus, bacteria) 25 12 7 17
Other type of complaint 71 34 26 43
Missing 1 .. .. ..
Total 724 343 318 368
Females Bone, joint or muscle problem 223 102 88 116
  mainly affects the upper limbs or neck 99 45 36 54
  mainly affects the lower limbs 27 12 8 17
  mainly affects the back 97 45 36 53
Breathing or lung problem 33 15 10 20
Skin problem 9 * * *
Hearing problem 1 * * *
Stress, depression or anxiety 318 144 128 160
Headache and/or eyestrain 17 * * *
Heart disease/attack, other circulatory system 12 * * *
Infectious disease (virus, bacteria) 34 16 10 21
Other type of complaint 51 24 17 30
Total 698 319 295 343
All persons Bone, joint or muscle problem 494 231 211 252
  mainly affects the upper limbs or neck 201 93 80 106
  mainly affects the lower limbs 81 38 29 46
  mainly affects the back 212 100 87 114
Breathing or lung problem 76 35 27 43
Skin problem 28 13 8 18
Hearing problem 9 * * *
Stress, depression or anxiety 558 257 235 279
Headache and/or eyestrain 41 20 14 27
Heart disease/attack, other circulatory system 34 16 10 21
Infectious disease (virus, bacteria) 59 28 21 35
Other type of complaint 122 58 48 69
Missing 1 .. .. ..
Total 1422 662 627 697

Notes:

.. Not applicable

* Sample numbers too small to provide reliable estimates

Figures in italics are estimates based on fewer than 30 sample cases

The estimates in this table take account of revisions to the Great Britain population estimates following the 2001 Census.

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Updated 12.05.08