The health and Safety Executive have released the key statistics within Great Britain for incidents in health and safety.
- 1.8 million working people suffering from a work-related illness, of which
- 914,000 workers suffering work-related stress, depression or anxiety
- 477,000 workers suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder
- 123,000 workers suffering from COVID-19 which they believe may have been from exposure to coronavirus at work
- 2,544 mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures (2020)
- 123 workers killed in work-related accidents
- 565,000 working people sustained an injury at work according to the Labour Force Survey
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic the rate of self-reported non-fatal injury to workers showed a generally downward trend. The current rate (1,790 injuries per 100,000 workers) is similar to the 2018/19 pre-coronavirus levels.
- 61,713 injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR
These statistics cover workplace fatal injuries that are reportable under the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) where HSE is the relevant enforcing authority and are updated on a quarterly basis. (They do not include incidents where Local authorities or Office of Rail and Road are the relevant enforcing authority. However, these cases are included in the published annual count.). These statistics will not fully align with the listing of in-year work-related deaths reported to HSE as they have been subject to further validation to confirm whether the incident is reportable under RIDDOR based on current investigation findings.
- 36.8 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
- £18.8 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2019/20)
In the recent years prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the rate of self-reported work-related ill health had been broadly flat. The current rate is higher than the 2018/19 pre-coronavirus levels.
HSE statistics show that each year, over a million workers are injured or made ill by their work in Great Britain. This can have serious effects on these individuals and their families, as well as employers, government and wider society. The impacts can be measured in terms of ‘human’ costs (the impact on the individual’s quality of life and, for fatal injuries, loss of life), and ‘financial’ costs, such as loss of production and healthcare costs. HSE’s estimate of the total costs of workplace injuries and ill health includes both financial costs and a valuation of human costs.
The latest estimates show that, based on data from 2018/19 to 2021/22, an average of 612,000 workers were injured in workplace accidents each year and a further 619,000 workers each year suffered a new case of ill health which they believe to be caused or made worse by their work. The cost estimates (for 2019/20) include only new cases of work-related ill health and self-reported injuries, and exclude pre-existing cases, to represent the costs arising from current working conditions.