Health and Safety Executive

Annex 2 - Module of questions on work-related illness: 2006/07

Questions commissioned by the HSE were included in the first quarter (January-March) of the 2007 Labour Force Survey (LFS).  Questions were only applicable if respondents were:

  • working during reference week, (WRKING = 'yes')
  • or temporarily away from a job, (JBAWAY = 'yes')
  • or working for their own or a family business, (OWNBUS = 'yes' or RELBUS = 'yes')
  • or on an employment training scheme, (YTETMP = 1,2,4)
  • or on the New Deal employment schemes (NEWDEA4 = 3,4,5,7)
  • or on other New Deal options (study-based schemes, Gateway or Follow Through options) and have additional paid work. (NEWDEA4 = 1, 6, 8, 9, or 19 & YTETJB = 'yes')
  • or ever worked (EVERWK= 1)

ILLWRK

(Apart from the accident you have told me about,) within the last twelve months have you suffered from any illness, disability or other physical or mental problem that was caused or made worse by your job or work done in the past?

  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Don't know [*]

[*] this option only available for proxy interviews

The questions refer to any illness, disability or problem that was caused or made worse by their work. It is only asked of people who have ever been employed. The illness, disability or problem must be one caused or made worse by work, but the original cause, or worsening of the condition due to work, could have been work before the 12 month period. However to be eligible for these questions the respondent must have suffered from the effects or symptoms of this work-related illness, disability or other physical/mental problem at some point during the past 12 months.

NUMILL

Applies if ILLWRK=1 (Respondent suffered from an illness in last 12 months caused/made worse by work)

How many illnesses have you had (in the last twelve months) that have been caused or been made worse by your work?

Enter a numeric value between 1 and 8 (for 8 or more illnesses, code as 8).

The remainder of the questions refer to the respondent's most serious illness.

TYPILL

Applies if ILLWRK=1 (Respondent suffered from an illness in last 12 months caused/made worse by work)

How would you describe this illness?

  1. Bone, joint or muscle problems which mainly affect (or is mainly connected with) arms, hands, neck or shoulder,
  2. Bone, joint or muscle problems which mainly affect (or is mainly connected with) hips, legs or feet,
  3. Bone, joint or muscle problems which mainly affect (or is mainly connected with) back,
  4. Breathing or lung problems,
  5. Skin problems,
  6. Hearing problems,
  7. Stress, depression or anxiety,
  8. Headache and/or eyestrain,
  9. Heart disease/attack, other circulatory system,
  10. Infectious disease (virus, bacteria),
  11. Other

TYPILL is still referring to the illness or disability in the last 12 months that was caused or made worse by the respondent's work. If more than one code applies, the respondent's illness has more than one effect. Code the one which the respondent says is the most serious, or affects them the most.

AWARE

Applies if ILLWRK=1 (Respondent suffered from an illness in last 12 months caused/made worse by work)

When were you first aware of this illness?  Please confirm the year and month.

  1. Within the last 12 months
  2. More than one year ago

The interviewer will read the question, but not prompt the person for an answer. The question allows the interviewer to calculate whether the response from the interviewee was in the last 12 months or not.

TMEOFF

Applies IF IllWRK=1 (Respondent suffered from an illness in last 12 months caused/made worse by work) and Respondent currently in work or left last job in previous 12 months

In the last twelve months, how much time off work have you had because of this illness ?

  1. No time off work,
  2. less than 1 day,
  3. 1 to 3 days (Work days),
  4. 4 to 6 days (Work days),
  5. At least 1 week but less than 2 weeks,
  6. At least 2 weeks but less than 1 month,
  7. At least 1 month but less than 3 months,
  8. At least 3 months but less than 6 months,
  9. At least 6 months but less than 9 months,
  10. At least 9 months but less than a year.

WCHJB3

Applies if ILLWRK=1 (Respondent suffered from an illness in last 12 months caused/made worse by work)

May I just check, was the job that caused or made your illness worse the one you previously mentioned as...

  1. [Occupation title - main job]
  2. [Occupation title - second job]
  3. or was it some other job?

WIND

Applies if ILLWRK=1 (Respondent suffered from an illness in last 12 months caused/made worse by work) and either WCHJB3=3 (some other job caused or made illness worse) OR both OCCT=EMPTY and OCCT2=EMPTY (information on occupation for both main and second job missing)

Thinking about the job which caused or made your illness worse, what did the firm/organisation you worked for mainly make or do?

Enter a text of at most 80 characters

WINDT

Applies if ILLWRK=1 (Respondent suffered from an illness in last 12 months caused/made worse by work) and either WCHJB3=3 (some other job caused or made illness worse) OR both OCCT=EMPTY and OCCT2=EMPTY (information on occupation for both main and second job missing)

Enter a short text for the industry

Enter a text of at most 30 characters

WOCCT

Applies if ILLWRK=1 (Respondent suffered from an illness in last 12 months caused/made worse by work) and either WCHJB3=3 (some other job caused or made illness worse) OR both OCCT=EMPTY and OCCT2=EMPTY (information on occupation for both main and second job missing)

What was your job?

Enter a text of at most 80 characters

WOCCD

Applies if ILLWRK=1 (Respondent suffered from an illness in last 12 months caused/made worse by work) and either WCHJB3=3 (some other job caused or made illness worse) OR both OCCT=EMPTY and OCCT2=EMPTY (information on occupation for both main and second job missing)

What did you mainly do in your job?

Enter a text of at most 80 characters

The interviewer will check special qualifications / training needed to do the job

Quick links

Ask an expert 0845 345 0055

Health and Safety Executive
Caerphilly Business Park
Caerphilly CF83 3GG

Directgov - Business Link

Updated 12.05.08