WORK-RELATED ILLNESS
Data from the Health & Safety Executive
In 2004-05 an estimated 35 million working days were lost.
28 million of these were lost due to self-reported work-related illness.
Stress, depression & anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders accounted for the majority of these working days lost, with a combined total of 24.4 million.
An estimated 11.6 million working days were lost through musculoskeletal disorders. The average number of days taken off work was 20.5 per case.
Musculoskeletal disorders (in particular those affecting the back and upper limbs) were the most commonly reported work-related illnesses in 2004-05 with an estimated 1,012,000 people affected.
An estimated 12.8 million working days were lost through stress, depression or anxiety. The average number of days taken off work was 30.9 per case.
Stress, depression or anxiety was the second most commonly reported work-related illness in 2004-05, with an estimated 509,000 people affected.
In some cases, prolonged stress can lead to physical and/or mental ill-health.
Other self-reported work-related illnesses in 2004-05 include:
·headaches and/or eyestrain
·heart disease/attacks and other illnesses
affecting the circulatory system