Health and Safety Executive

Table BACKIND1

Estimated 2004/05 prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal disorders mainly affecting the back caused or made worse by work, by industry section, for people ever employed

Industry description + Section Illness ascribed to any job
Sample cases Estimated prevalence (thousands)
central 95% C.I.
lower upper
Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing A&B 22 11 7 16
  Agriculture, hunting and forestry A 20 10 6 15
  Fishing B 2 * * *
Extractive and utility supply C&E 23 11 6 15
  Mining and quarrying C 16 * * *
  Electricity, gas and water supply E 7 * * *
Manufacturing D 145 73 61 85
Construction F 122 64 53 76
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods G 75 39 30 48
Hotels and restaurants H 24 14 8 20
Transport, storage and communication I 84 42 33 51
Financial intermediation J 18 * * *
Real estate, renting and business activities K 47 26 19 34
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security L 56 27 20 34
Education M 50 25 18 31
Health and social work N 170 85 72 98
Other community, social and personal service activities O 34 18 12 24
Other P&Q 6 * * *
  Private households with employed persons P 6 * * *
Missing/unknown   6 .. .. ..
All industries   882 452 422 483

Notes:

  • Definitions and data reliability
  • .. Not applicable
  • * Sample numbers too small to provide reliable estimates.
  • Figures in italics are estimates based on fewer than 30 sample cases.
  • + See Appendix 5 in the 'Self-reported work-related illness in 2004/05' (SWI04/05) report for details of Standard Industrial Classification.
  • See section 2.7 and Appendix 3.2 in the 'Self-reported work-related illness in 2004/05' (SWI04/05) report for more details on prevalence estimates.
  • The estimates in this table take account of revisions made to the Great Britain population estimates following the 2001 Census.

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Updated 12.05.08