In 2022/23, nearly two million employees in Great Britain reported experiencing work-related ill health, as disclosed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in its annual report on workplace injuries and health issues released on November 22, 2023.
The data highlights that 1.8 million workers reported instances of work-related ill health, with approximately half of these cases attributed to stress, depression, or anxiety. While the rate of self-reported work-related ill health had remained relatively stable in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, the current rate exceeds that of 2018/19.
Specifically, there were an estimated 875,000 cases of work-related stress, depression, or anxiety during 2022/23, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The impact is further emphasized by the loss of approximately 35.2 million working days due to self-reported work-related ill health or injury.
Sarah Albon, the CEO of HSE, emphasized the importance of addressing work-related stress, citing potential benefits such as improved employee well-being, enhanced work experience, increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and lower staff turnover.
Furthermore, the statistics shed light on the economic repercussions of work-related ill health and workplace injuries. In the financial year 2021/22, the estimated annual costs associated with workplace injuries and new cases of work-related ill health amounted to £20.7 billion, marking a £1.9 billion increase compared to 2019/20.
The report also outlined the grim reality that 135 workers lost their lives in work-related accidents during 2022/23, while 561,000 workers suffered non-fatal injuries in the workplace over the same period. These figures underscore the multifaceted impact of work-related health issues on both individuals and the broader economic landscape in Britain.
