Health
The facts
- In 2010-11, 22.1 million working days were lost in Great
Britain through work-related ill health.
- 1.2 million people, who worked in the last twelve
months, suffered an illness they thought was caused or made
worse by their work. Thousands more died from occupational
cancers.
- In 2008, Dame Carol Black conducted a
Review of the health of Britain's working age
population.
- Dame Carol included
findings that work is generally good for people and can help
them lead healthier lives, as long as the work is good and they're
in safe and supportive workplaces.
- The Government responded to the Review by committing to a
programme of initiatives.
Read the Government response.
- There's also a Government drive to create a more inclusive
workforce in which people aren't simply written off because they're
not 100 per cent fit. The target is to support 1 million people,
currently on incapacity benefit, back into work.
- There are only around 8,000 specialist occupational health
professionals and hygienists in the UK, but around 25,000
practising health and safety professionals.
Our position
We believe a fundamental change is needed in how well the
country manages its workplaces and a strong multi-disciplinary
approach to occupational health issues. Our 'Back to health, back to work' campaign and
Creating a
healthier UK plc (PDF 107 KB) manifesto
support this.
Everyone needs to pull in the same direction: government,
employers, professionals, advisers and workers. As a nation, we
need to make sure that everyone understands how to protect and
improve health, and emphasise the message that 'worker-friendly'
workplaces are productive and benefit everyone.
We should use health and safety practitioners to act as
workplace advocates - educating managers, spotting early signs of
possible occupational illness and ensuring early referrals.
We also believe that where employers can help workers get
certain therapies needed to stay in, or return to, work; tax relief
should be available.
Also, in England and Northern Ireland, equivalents to Healthy
Working Lives Scotland and Workboost Wales should be provided,
giving small businesses free access to workplace visits and
advice.
Relevant IOSH consultation responses