The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published it’s latest workplace health and safety statistics.
The annual statistics reveal the number of workers affected by work-related ill-health and workplace injuries in Great Britain from 1st April 2023 until 31st March 2024.
Britain’s health and safety watchdog has revealed that the number of workers who experienced work-related ill-health in 2023-24 – 1.7 million – is broadly similar to the level reported in the previous year (1.8 million in 2022-23). However, these figures still represent higher rates of work-related ill-health than were recorded pre-pandemic (2018-19).
Health and safety statistics reveal high levels of work-related stress
Almost half (46%) of those reporting work-related ill-health last year were experiencing stress, depression and anxiety. This equates to an estimated 776,000 workers, with 16.4 million working days lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2023-24.
This is higher than pre-pandemic levels of self-reported work-related stress, depression or anxiety but does represent a fall from 2022-23, when 910,000 cases were recorded.
The figures follow International Stress Awareness Week, which encouraged organisations and individuals to reduce stress and improve wellbeing.
As has been the case in previous years, HSE’s health and safety statistics for 2023-24 show that the industries with higher-than-average rates of work-related stress, depression and anxiety are public administration / defence, human health and social work and education.
In line with previous years, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were another major cause of work-related ill-health, with the new health and safety statistics showing that 543,000 workers suffered from an MSD in 2023-24.
Industries with higher-than-average rates of MSDs were admin and support service activities, construction and transportation and storage.
Health and safety statistics reveal thousands of workers injured
Meanwhile, the Labour Force Survey showed that 604,000 workers sustained an injury at work last year. Of these, just over a tenth were reportable under RIDDOR, with 61,663 workplace injuries reported in 2023-24.
Slips, trips and falls were to blame for almost a third of workplace injuries last year (31%), while other common accident types were:
- Handling, lifting and carrying (17%)
- Struck by a moving object (10%)
- Acts of violence (9%)
- Falls from height (8%)
Workplace injuries and work-related ill-health have high cost
In total, an estimated 33.7 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injuries in Great Britain last year.
It is estimated that the cost of workplace injuries and new cases of work-related ill-health totalled £21.6 billion, with this number relating to 2022-23 figures. This is £1.6 billion less than estimated in 2021-22. Two thirds of the cost was attributable to cases of work-related ill-health.
The HSE’s health and safety statistics also confirm that 138 workers were killed in accidents at work last year.
In addition, figures for 2022 show that 2,257 people died from mesothelioma as a result of past exposures to asbestos at work. There are around 12,000 lung disease deaths each year linked to past exposures at work.
Health and safety statistics “serve as a reminder” to improve
The HSE’s Chief Executive, Sarah Albon, noted that 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act. She said:
“This year marks 50 years since the legislation which established HSE was passed. Much has been achieved in that time, including a dramatic reduction of around 85% in the numbers of employee fatal injuries in the workplace.
“Today, Great Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work, but these statistics serve as a reminder that there is still room for further improvement, and we remain committed to ensuring people remain safe and healthy wherever work is taking place.”
Download the summary statistics for Great Britain 2024 at the HSE’s website.
Training to prevent work-related ill-health and workplace injuries
First Response Training (FRT) is one of the UK’s largest and leading national training providers.
They deliver a wide and diverse range of training for businesses and organisations across all industry sectors and throughout the UK. Their course range includes training in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, mental health, food safety, health and social care and more.
Their health and safety training is mapped to UK standards and legislation and follows HSE guidelines. The portfolio includes courses such as Health and Safety, Managing Health and Safety, Risk Assessment, Accident and Incident Investigation, Working at Height, Asbestos Awareness and many more.
An accredited Mindful Employer themselves, FRT’s specialist mental health training courses include Understanding Mental Health, Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace, Managing Stress, Anxiety and Phobias Awareness, Self-Harm Awareness and Suicide Awareness.
They can also provide qualified, approved trainers to deliver accredited Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training courses, including the Adult, Youth and Lite versions.
A trainer from FRT says:
“We believe in creating safer working environments with people who care. This is our vision and central to our services. It means providing training that helps to protect people’s physical and mental health, safety and welfare.
“Any life lost at work is obviously one too many, and non-fatal injuries can also have significant, life-altering impacts on workers. Additionally, while stress is not recognised as a diagnosable mental health condition, it can lead to more serious mental health problems such as depression and anxiety and can also have physiological effects.
“It’s important to ensure that we regularly undergo essential training in health, safety and welfare across all organisations and industries.”
Helpful resources
A brief summary of our mental health training can now be downloaded as an infographic.
We also have several other free infographics available to download which provide simple tips for helping to manage your mental and emotional wellbeing and proactively manage your stress levels. These include:
- Managing Stress at Work
- Manage Your Stress at Work
- Manage Your Stress
- Support Your Mental Health
- Connect With Nature
- Work Well From Home
You can download our free Guide to Mental Health Training from our website.
We also offer a guide to promoting positive mental health at work, a guide to creating a happy and inclusive work environment and lots of other free guides and resources.
For more information on the training that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or send an e-mail to info@firstresponsetraining.com.