Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

WellbeingOccupational Health

Work-related illness on the decline

by Personnel Today 3 Dec 2005
by Personnel Today 3 Dec 2005

The number of people who suffered from work-related ill health has fallen by 200,000 compared with figures from 2001-02, according to official statistics.

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) national statistics showed that two million people suffered from work-related injuries and ill health in 2004/05.

Stress and musculoskeletal disorders were found to account for about two-thirds of occupational ill health.

Fatal injuries were also down by 7%, or 220 deaths in 2004-05 compared with 236 the previous year.

Two industries – construction and agriculture, forestry and fishing – accounted for half of these deaths, with 71 and 42 respectively. The number of reported major injuries was also down 2.2% to 30,213, compared with the previous year.

More than one-third of all reported major injuries were caused by slipping or tripping, said the HSE.

The number of reported injuries that resulted in more than three days absence fell by 8% in 2004-05 to 120,346, of which 40% were caused by handling, lifting and carrying.

This year’s figures also marked the mid-point of the Health and Safety Commission’s Revitalising Health and Safety targets, which were to reduce fatal and major injuries by 5%, occupational ill health by 10%, and working days lost by 15%.

Overall, the target on fatal and major injuries had not been met, although progress had been made as there had been the first fall in major injuries since 2000-01, said the HSE. For work-related ill health, the incidence has fallen for most major categories with the 10% target ‘probably’ achieved overall.

For working days lost, there had been a ‘significant’ fall that may have been large enough to meet the 15% target, said the HSE.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Go to www.hse.gov.uk




 

Personnel Today

Personnel Today articles are written by an expert team of award-winning journalists who have been covering HR and L&D for many years. Some of our content is attributed to "Personnel Today" for a number of reasons, including: when numerous authors are associated with writing or editing a piece; or when the author is unknown (particularly for older articles).

previous post
Canon looks after bottom line with reinforced copiers
next post
Disability discrimination law extends to cover more worker

You may also like

‘Frustrating’ that NHS Plan has overlooked OH, warns...

8 Jul 2025

Four in 10 call centre workers to quit...

8 Jul 2025

Third in north west fear ill health will...

2 Jul 2025

Welfare cuts would ‘undermine workforce inclusion and business...

27 Jun 2025

Supporting employees through substance abuse

24 Jun 2025

One in four young workers rate mental health...

17 Jun 2025

CIPD Festival of Work: ‘Wellbeing is not an...

11 Jun 2025

How employers can support cancer carers better

11 Jun 2025

Two-thirds of workers still struggling to access GPs...

10 Jun 2025

Employers must offer more flexibility to working carers,...

9 Jun 2025

  • Empower and engage for the future: A revolution in talent development (webinar) WEBINAR | As organisations strive...Read more
  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today