Over £1m workers could be suffering from work-related illnesses according to the latest figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The figures – taken from the organisation’s workplace health and safety report for 2013/2014 – found the main reasons for people taking time off work were stress, anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders, which is thought to account for around £8.6 billion and over 20 million working days lost to the British economy. 80% of all illnesses reported fitted this category. On average, those suffering from an illness or injury obtained at work takes 16 days off work. Cases of ill-health typically lead to 19 days’ absence and injuries generally see workers take 7.5 days off.
While these forms of work-related absence increased over the last 12 months, the number of deaths at work were down to 133, while 700, 000 workers in total reported receiving an injury while at work.
In total, the HSE estimates work-related illnesses and accidents result in the loss of 28.2 million working days and £14.2 billion to the country.
Asbestos-related deaths, and cases of mesothelioma – the disease caused by asbestos exposure – continue to increase as the illness can take many years to develop. The majority of the 2,535 deaths occurred in men and the HSE believes the peak in deaths and illnesses will be reached by the end of the decade.
The key statistics from the report are:
- 1.2 million workers currently have a work-related illness
- 78,000 injuries were reported under the RIDDOR scheme
- 629,000 injuries were found to have taken place from the Labour Force survey
- 133 workers died at work or as a result of injuries obtained at work
- 28.2 million workings days were lost due to workplace illness or injury
- £14.2 billion cost to workplace illness or injury
The report found men are affected more than women by most work-related illnesses and injuries, and workers aged 45 or over also top the illness and injury leagues. It also found some deaths resulted from occupational cancers, including lung cancer, caused by prolonged exposure to diesel, silica/” title=”Brick dust caused silicosis” alt=”Does brick dust cause silicosis?”>silica, and mineral oil. Breast cancer from shift work was also high on the list of work-related deaths.
Professional workplaces were found to have very low work injury rates but high illness rates, those using machines and working in factories experienced the highest injury rates while workers in the care, leisure and personal service industries suffer from above average workplace injury and illness rates.
As well as fatalities at work decreasing, cases of work-related asthma have halved since 2010, dermatitis has dropped from 190 cases in 2003 to 40 in 2014, and industrial deafness has fallen by two-thirds over the past 10 years.
If you think you may be entitled to compensation as a result of a workplace injury or illness, please contact us here. Or if you have been exposed to asbestos and your health has suffered as a result, visit our dedicated asbestos website – www.asbestosisclaims.com. You can also call us on 0800 028 2060.