An estimated 1.8 million people in Britain were reported to be suffering from illness that had been made worse or even caused by their work in 2011/2012. These numbers are shocking, however self-reported ill health in the workplace has dropped over the past ten years. Deaths from work related illness currently stand at around 13000, yet it is thought that over half of these deaths are due to exposure to substances such as asbestos. It is likely that the majority of these cases are due to exposure to asbestos many years ago. Mesothelioma and lung cancer are the two biggest killers and are a result of asbestos, a substance that also causes Asbestosis. Silica, diesel engine exhaust and mineral oils have also caused cases of fatal lung cancer from the workplace. The largest killer is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) which can be caused by dust, gases, vapors and fumes. Other common work related illnesses include anxiety, stress, depression and musculoskeletal disorders. Whilst these are common health conditions, they can be caused or made worse by work. Almost 80% of new work-related conditions fall under these categories. Skin diseases are also a problem with Epiderm reporting 1550 cases of skin disease such as contact dermatitis or skin cancer.

1. Fataland Non-Fatal
Injuries in the Workplace.
Most of these diseases take many years to develop and so deaths occurring now are largely a
result of past workplace conditions.
148
workers were
killed at work, a rate of
0.5 per 100,000
78,222non-fatal injuries to workers
were reported under RIDDOR, a rate of
311.6 per 100,000
175,000reportable injuries (defined as over 7-day absence) occurred according
to the Labour Force Survey, a rate of 610 per 100,000
During the period
2012/13
W
ORKING DAYS LOST
27 Million
During the Period 2011/12
days were lost overall due
to work-related ill health
or injury (17 days per case).
4.3 Million
due to workplace injury.
22.7 Milliondue to work-related ill health.
Numberoffatalinjuries
Rateoffatalinjury
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
0
93/4
94/5
95/6
96/7
97/8
98/9
99/0
00/1
01/2
02/3
03/4
04/5
05/6
06/7
07/8
08/9
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13*
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
Employee Self employed Rate of fatal injury per 100 000 workers *Provisional
Employer Reported Non-Fatal injuries to workers:
Number of fatal injuries to workers
Rate of over 3 day absence per 100,000 workers
The last five years indicates a levelling-off of the number of fatal injuries to
workers, with no overall trend.
Of the main industrial sectors, construction, agriculture, and waste and recycling
have the highest rates, with 39, 29, and 10 fatal injuries to workers, respectively.
The most common major accidents involved
slips or trips (43%) and falls from height (13%).
There were 58,515 reported over 7-day injuries. The most common accidents
were caused by handling, lifting or carrying (27%) and slips or trips (26%).
Nearly twice as many men as women suffered a major injury.
However, there was little gender difference for slips and trips.
4,175 females had slip/trip injuries, compared to 4,234 males.
[There are roughly the same number of men and women in the workforce].
Numberofnon-fatalinjuries
Rateofnon-fatalinjury
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
96/7
97/8
98/9
99/0
00/1
01/2
02/3
03/4
04/5
05/6
06/7
07/8
08/9
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13*
0
100
800
200
300
400
500
600
700
Major injury Over-3-day injury Non-fatal injury rate (major plus over-3-day)
Over-7-day injury Rate of non-fatal injury for 2012/13p (major plus over-7-day)
Series break from over-3-day to over-7-day
Number and rate of fatal injuries to workers
Mesothelioma (asbestos)
Lung cancer (asbestos)*
Lung cancer (silica)*
Lung cancer (diesel engine exhaust)*
Breast cancer (shiftwork)*
Asbestosis (asbestos)
Lung cancer (mineral oils)*
COPD† (dust, gases, vapours, fumes)*
Other cancers*
Current annual deaths due to work-related diseases
(with causal agents in brackets)
0
500
1000
1500
4000
2000
2500
3000
3500
*Figures are estimated based on epidemiological data and are subject to
considerable uncertainty
†Research is underway to identify more specific causal agents for COPD
22: Scotland
22: South East
16: East
15: Yorkshire & the Humber
15: North West:
22: West Midlands
13: London
12: South West
08: Wales
07: East Midlands
02: North East
970: North East
960: East Midlands
830: South West
810: West Midlands
800: Wales
790: North West
790: Yorkshire & The Humber
760: Scotland
680: East
640: South East
610: London
(3 year average 2010/211 – 2012/13)
Workplace injuries and ill health (excluding cancer) cost society an estimated:
£13.8 billionin 2010/11 (based on 2011 prices).
Of the total cost in 2010/11, workplace illness
cost society an estimated:
£8.4 billionworkplace injury (including fatalities)
cost society an estimated:
£5.4 billion
Source:
HSE.gov.uk:
HSE Health and Safety Executive Statistics 2012/2013
http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/kinds-of-accident.pdf
78,222Non-fatal injuries.
M
AJOR ACCIDENTS RECORD
ED
M
AJOR INJURIES BY GEND
ER
18,707were major injuries.
12,676
major injuries
to males.
7,021
major injuries
to females.