Comparisons of work-related illness and injuries statistics

Self-reported incidence

• Latest estimates from the Labour Force Survey show 523 000 new cases of work-related ill health:
  • Musculoskeletal disorders - 190 000
  • Stress depression or anxiety - 195 000
  • Other illnesses - 137 000
• According to the Labour Force Survey there were an estimated 328 000 injuries which met the criteria to be reportable under RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995).
• Ill health accounts for around 61% of the total.

Notes

1. The injuries figures use a three - year average from the Labour Force Survey (2003/04 - 2005/06)
2. The categories of ill health do not sum to the total due to rounding
3. Incidence estimates for ill health relate to people who have ever worked, whereas estimates for injuries relate to people who worked in the previous 12 months.

Working days lost

• In 2005/06 an estimated 24.3 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health:
  • Musculoskeletal disorders - 9.5 million
  • Stress, depression or anxiety - 10.5 million
  • Other illnesses - 4.3 million
• An estimated 6.1 million working days were lost due to injuries.
• Ill health accounts for around 80% of the total.

Notes

1. Some of the working days lost due to ill health will relate to illness caused by earlier injuries

Fatalities

• There is a wide range of uncertainty around ill health estimates, but these amount to over 10 000 deaths per year due to past occupational exposures. Based on mortality data for 2004 there were:
  • Cancer - 6000 deaths
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - 4000 deaths
  • Asbestosis - 100 deaths
• Other non-malignant respiratory diseases - 223 deaths
• There were 212 fatal injuries to workers in 2005/06.
• Ill health accounts for at least 98% of the total.

Notes

1. Percentages for the different components within the chart are highly dependent on the estimate of 6000 total annual cancer deaths which makes up a large part of the total. There is a wide range of uncertainty associated with this figure (3000-12000 deaths). It is acknowledged that this estimate is out of date; it is currently being updated.
2. The estimate of 6000 annual cancer deaths includes asbestos related cancers. A separate estimate for such cancers (mesothelioma and asbestos related lung cancer) suggests that there were around 4000 deaths in 2004.
3. Around 15% of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD - including bronchitis and emphysema) may be work-related, which suggests there could be approximately 4000 COPD deaths each year due to past occupational exposures to fumes, chemicals and dusts.
4. No reliable figures are available for heart disease due to workplace stress, and so this is not included in the chart. The proportion of heart disease deaths due to work factors is difficult to estimate.