The final results of the HSE’s self-reported work-related illness survey have been published – revealing that two million people think work has made them ill – or made an existing condition worse.
In total, the 2 million – of whom 600,000 became ill for the first time during 2004/5 – accounted for 28 million working days lost to the economy.
Key cases of ill health include:
- Musculoskeletal Disorder’s (MSDs) are the biggest cause of work-related ill health, around one million people are suffering from an MSD that they believe was caused or made worse by work.
- Stress is the next biggest cause of occupational ill health, around half a million people are estimated to be suffering work related stress.
But in the past 12 months the trend appears to have reversed:
- Around 246,000 new cases of work related stress.
- Around 206,000 new case of MSDs.
Professions which have above average rates for work-related illness include health and social welfare, teaching and research professionals and skilled construction and building trades.
HSE chief executive Geoffrey Podger said: “Twenty-eight million days is a huge loss to the British economy. HSE is working with employers, trades unions and other government departments to bring this down.”
The full report can be downloaded from: www.hse.gov.uk
