Health And Safety Not So Crazy

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has posted a series of facts and figures on its website, asking “Has health and safety really gone mad?” and suggesting that the latest statistics suggest in fact that Britain needs “better health and safety”, not less.

The professional body quotes ill-health figures which state that in 2008/09, an estimated 1.2 million people suffered from ill health which they thought was work related. Some key points in connection with ill-health figures are that:

• musculoskeletal disorders are the most common type of work-related illness, but mental ill health gives rise to more working days lost

• for the last three years, a yearly average of around 5500 cases were assessed for industrial injuries disablement benefit, with the largest categories being vibration white finger, carpal tunnel syndrome and respiratory diseases associated with past exposures to substances such as asbestos and coal dust

• the annual number of work-related cancer deaths is likely to be more than 8000

• about 4000 cancer deaths each year are due to past exposure to asbestos

• around 15% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including bronchitis and emphysema, may be work related.

Source: Croners / IOSH

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