Introduction
2020 has brought about a whole new set of health and safety challenges in the workplace, whether that might be the office or at home. The HSE have recently published their Health and safety at work 2019/20, Summary statistics for 2020. In this post, we’ll detail some of the key facts and messages that should be taken from this.
Key Facts:
A summary of the Health and Safety at Work 2019/20 statistics
The following key facts refer to dates covering 2019/20 unless stated otherwise
- 1.6 million work-related or ill health cases (new or long-standing)
- 0.8 million work-related stress, depression or anxiety disorders (new or long-standing)
- 0.5 million work-related musculoskeletal disorder cases (new or long-standing)
- £10.6 billion annual costs of new cases of work-related ill health in 2018/19
- 0.7 million workers sustaining a non-fatal injury
- 65,427 non-fatal injuries to employees reported by employers
- 111 fatal injuries to workers
- 38.8 million working days lost due to work-related ill health and non-fatal workplace injuries
- 12,000 lung disease deaths each year estimated to be linked to past exposures at work
- 2,446 mesothelioma deaths in 2019 with a similar number of lung cancer deaths linked to past exposures to asbestos
- £10.6 billion annual costs of new cases of work-related ill health in 2018/19
- £5.6 billion annual costs of workplace injury in 2018/19
- £16.2 billion annual costs of work-related injury and new cases of ill health in 2018/19
A look at 2018/19 and 2019/20
By looking back at the same report from 2018/19, we can see what figures have increased or decreased or even stayed the same. Below, we’ve stated some of the key differences we’ve found between the reports;
- 226,000 more workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety (new or long-standing)
- 5.1 million increase in working days lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety
- 0.2 million increase in workers suffering from work-related ill health
- 9 million increase in working days lost due to work-related ill health
- £1.2 billlion increase in work-related injury and ill health
- 2 million increase in working days lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders
The rise in workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, as well as working days lost due to this, is likely in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic that has dominated 2020. This pandemic has been detrimental to mental health across the world and the UK, and these figures represent that. Covid-19 may also be responsible for the 2 million increase in working days lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders, a consequence of the transition to home working.
Conclusion
As a health and safety company, we want to keep you up to date on figures like these and help you understand the trends in data. It’s important, now more than ever, to be proactive about the health and safety of your company and workplace. If you require any of our expert health and safety services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on t: + 44 (0)141 244 0181 or e: info@amalgamate-safety.com