Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Statistics
The latest survey of self-reported work-related illness (SWI) carried out in 2006/07 estimated that, in Wales, 132 000 people suffered from an illness which they believe was caused or made worse by their current or past work (See Table WRIGOR1E). The associated prevalence rate of 6000 per 100 000 people (6.0%) ever employed was statistically significantly higher to than those for England (5000 per 100 000 people - 5.0%) and Great Britain (5100 per 100 000 people - 5.1%), but was of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to that for Scotland (5200 per 100 000 people – 5.2%).
Comparing this rate with the corresponding rates from earlier SWI surveys indicates that the estimated prevalence rate in 2006/07 was statistically significantly higher than the rate in 2005/06 (4600 per 100 000 people - 4.6%), but was of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to the rates in 2004/05 (5400 per 100 000 people - 5.4%), 2003/04 (6200 per 100 000 people - 6.2%) and 2001/02 (6300 per 100 000 people - 6.3%).
More detailed prevalence data by type of illness are not yet available from SWI06/07. However, earlier SWI surveys indicate that the prevalence rate for musculoskeletal disorders (See Table MSDGOR1E) in 2005/06 was of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to the corresponding rates in 2004/05, 2003/04 and 2001/02, whereas the rate for stress, depression or anxiety (See Table STRGOR1E) in 2005/06 was statistically significantly lower than the corresponding rates in 2004/05, 2003/04 and 2001/02.
In 2006/07, Wales had an estimated incidence rate of work-related illness of 2000 per 100 000 people (2.0%) who worked in the last 12 months (See Table WRIGOR2W12). This rate was of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to those in 2005/06 (1400 per 100 000 people – 1.4%), 2004/05 (1700 per 100 000 people - 1.7%), 2003/04 (2200 per 100 000 people – 2.2%) and 2001/02 (2000 per 100 000 people – 2.0%).
Individual country data are also available for the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma (see Table MESO05). Geographical differences reflect the historic distribution of asbestos using industries, especially shipbuilding, railway engineering and the production of asbestos insulation products. Mesothelioma death rates for Wales are substantially lower than the GB average.
Data are also available on the estimated incidence of THOR cases by country and major disease category over the last three years (2004 to 2006) (see Table THORGOR1), and the numbers of cases of prescribed disease assessed as compensatable under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme (for lung diseases see Table IIDBGOR1 and Table IIDBGOR2 for other diseases) from 2002 to 2006.
The geographical distribution of THOR cases may be influenced by the location of members of the surveillance network, and should be interpreted cautiously – especially for hearing loss (where the number of cases is small).
The proportions of current work related ill health shown by THOR and IIDB data in the three countries of Great Britain generally reflect their approximate shares of the working population. For all diseases, the bulk of the cases are in England.
Two large categories of mainly historic occupational disease are more localised: asbestos-related diseases and diseases associated with coal mining. At country level the asbestos diseases as reflected in IIDB data are somewhat more prevalent in Scotland, and less prevalent in Wales. Pneumoconiosis and other mining related diseases occur at consistently higher rates in Wales, while for Scotland there is no clear pattern.
In 2006/07, there were 14 fatal injuries to workers in Wales, 1 673 reported major injuries to employees and 6 165 over 3 day injuries to employees. There were 8 fatal and 751 non-fatal injuries to members of the public (See table REGINJ [Excel 3.6mb] 
).
In Wales in 2006/07, the rate per 100 000 employees was 138.8 for fatal and major injuries, and 506.3 for over 3 day injuries, compared with Great Britain averages of 107.0 and 422.6 respectively. However, differences between regional injuries are strongly influenced by the composition of employment in regions, for example, the mix of industries and occupations (See table REGRATE [Excel 518KB] ).
The Services Industry accounted for 60% of fatal and major injuries to employees in 2006/07; this is an increase of 29% over the six-year period. In 2006/07 the highest rate of fatal and major injuries to employees was in the Construction Industry (304.9).
67% of over 3 day injuries occurred in the Services Industry to employees in 2006/07. In 2006/07 the highest rate of over 3 day injuries to employees was in the Manufacturing Industry (964.5).
Reported injuries data are also available for local authorities within Wales. These include estimated rates per 100 000 employees (see Technical note).
The injury figures above are based on reports under RIDDOR. HSE also places questions in the Labour Force Survey (LFS), asking people if they have suffered a workplace injury in the last year. Based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the rate of reportable non-fatal injury in Wales was 1200 per 100 000 workers (1.2%) in 2005/06 (three-year average), similar (not statistically significantly different) to the Great Britain average of 1100 per 100 000 workers (1.1%) (See table lfsgor.htm).
Data from the 2006/07 LFS and SWI surveys indicate that the combined estimate of the number of working days lost (full-day equivalent) due to workplace injury and work-related ill health in Wales was 2.5 million. This equates to an average annual loss of an estimated 2.2 days per worker, similar (not statistically significantly different) to the rates of 1.6 days in 2005/06, 2.0 days in 2004/05 and 2.4 days per worker in 2003/04.
Workplace injuries and work-related illness accounted for an estimated 0.4 million and 2.2 million working days lost (full-day equivalent) respectively in 2006/07, with corresponding rates of 0.33 and 1.9 days per worker.
The injury rate was of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to those of 0.47 days in 2005/06 and 0.31 days in 2004/05, but was statistically significantly lower than the corresponding rate of 0.82 days in 2003/04.
However, the ill health rate was of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to those of 1.1 days in 2005/06, 1.7 days in 2004/05 and 1.6 days in 2003/04. (See Table WDLGOR).
NB Enforcement statistics are presented separately for HSE and Local authorities. For HSE, historic data are presented for Field Operations Directorate only, i.e. excluding Railways Inspectorate (RI), Hazardous Installations Directorate (HID) and Nuclear Safety Directorate (NSD). In addition, 2005/06 data onwards are presented for all HSE Directorates excluding RI.
In 2006/07, there were 62 offences prosecuted by all HSE directorates (excluding Railways) in Wales, 52 of which led to a conviction. The average fine per conviction was £31,213, an increase on the previous year (£8,947). In 2005/06, there were 11 offences prosecuted by Local Authorities in Wales, all of which led to a conviction. The average fine per conviction was £3,664, an increase on the previous year (£2,496).
