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.