Statistics released earlier this year raise cause for concern
5th July 2021
The rate of self-reported, work-related ill health has been broadly flat in recent years, however the most recent statistics released by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE, 2019/20) * show increasing rates.
This increase raises cause for concern and clearly demonstrates the impact exposure to noise, dust and fume can have on workers’ long-term health.
Fig. 1 HSE graph showing rate of work-related ill health*
Here are some of the headline statistics from the HSE report:
Currently there are 1.6 million cases of work-related illness across 2019/20 an increase of 200,000 from the previous year.
Of these cases, 638,000 workers were suffering from a new case of work-related ill health in 2019/20.
There were 0.8 million cases of work-related stress, depression or anxiety reported in 2019/20.
38.8 million working days have been lost due to work-related ill health and non-fatal workplace injuries in 2019/20 and the cost of these is a staggering £16.2 billion.
By drilling down into these statistics we can see how different hazards are affecting worker health.
For example, exposure to excessive noise has contributed to the following statistics:
17,000 workers with work-related hearing problems from 2017/18 to 2019/20
95 new cases for work-related deafness in 2019, bringing the 2010-2019 total to 1,125.
Exposure to Dust, Fume, Gases and Vapours has also had devastating consequences:
13,000 deaths were estimated to be linked to past exposure at work, primarily to chemicals or dust.
12,000 deaths are caused by occupational lung diseases, primarily Mesothelioma, Asbestos-related lung cancer, non-asbestos related lung cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
17,000 new cases of breathing or lung problems caused or made worse by work each year have been reported over the last three years according the Labour Force Survey.
There were 174 new cases of occupational asthma seen by chest physicians in 2019, this made up part of the 1,077 new cases of occupational respiratory disease.
There were 2,446 Mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures in 2019.
Exposure to silica, diesel engine exhaust, solar radiation, shift work and working as painters and welders becoming the main causes of occupational cancer with the construction industry having about 3,500 cancer deaths in 2005 and 5,500 cancer registrations in 2004 - the largest estimate of occupational cancer cases by industry.
Asbestos-related cancer deaths have increased by about 25% to around 5,000 per year: there are now around 2,500 annual deaths from mesothelioma.
Asbestos-related lung cancer sees around 261 per year on average and 240 in 2019 alone.
HSE’s most recent cancer burden report puts the number of lung cancer deaths associated with exposure to RCS (Respirable Crystalline Silica) at around 600 deaths per year with 450 of these occurring from exposures in the construction sector. Over 75,000 workers are exposed to welding fumes, with around 152 deaths per year from fume-related lung cancer according to the HSE website.
According to the HSE’s most recent cancer burden report, Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions (DEEEs) cause an estimated 625 deaths, and over 10,000 workers are exposed to DEEEs.
Being aware of health hazards enables effective systems to be implemented in order to minimise consequences and protect long-term health in the construction industry and beyond.
