IOSH calls for action to tackle “scourge” of work-related ill health

It comes as new figures reveal that 1.7 million people were suffering from poor health caused by work last year, leading to 29.6 million lost working days.

IOSH believes the Government needs to invest in stronger measures which support businesses in preventing work-related ill health, including strengthening pathways to good mental health support and occupational health services.

The Government recently announced a £240 million investment into local services which help people back into work as part of its ‘Get Britain Working’ programme.

Ruth continued, “The key to solving this is prevention. There is no quick fix, but we need to see a real focus from the Government on investment in preventing poor health caused by work. This includes equipping small and medium-sized businesses with the awareness, resources and tools they need for health and safety management and to invest in prevention, risk management and early intervention around occupational health.”

The figures, published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), cover the period from April 2023 to the end of March 2024. Of the 1.7 million people suffering work-related ill health, 776,000 related to stress, depression or anxiety, causing 16.4 million lost working days. Meanwhile, 543,000 related to a musculoskeletal disorder, causing 7.8 million lost working days. Of all these people, 609,000 had a new case of poor health, the rest being existing conditions.

In the same period, 138 people were killed in a workplace accident, with 604,000 sustaining a non-fatal injury. The new figures also reveal that the cost of workplace injury and new cases of work-related ill health in 2022-23 was £21.6 billion, up from £20.7 billion the previous year.

Ruth added: “While Britain does have one of the strongest health and safety systems, supported by the Health and Safety at Work Act – which is 50 years old this year – it is clear there is still much work to do to prevent harm at work.

“No one should have their health or safety compromised by the work they do. Now is the time to seek to strengthen our systems, to better protect people at work. Fewer workplace accidents and cases of work-related ill health helps people to work and to thrive at work. It also boosts the bottom line of businesses and can contribute to reduced NHS waiting lists while supporting the economy.”