Occupational Ill-health 2005 – 2008
The figures below show the number
of new cases of work related ill-health seen in Occupational Health. These are
employees who are suffering from a condition which appears to have been caused,
triggered or significantly aggravated by their work.
Often there are multiple
elements in causation – a case has been included if it appears that
without work, the problem would not have occurred, even if there are non work
factors which were also contributory.
The figures are not limited
to those where there is a diagnosed condition (e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome,
depression), it includes those who have troublesome symptoms (e.g. muscle
soreness, sleep disturbance etc). An
attempt has been made to categorise cases by severity, based on the need for medical
treatment and time absent from work. However
this is greatly influenced by individual factors such as personal tolerance,
job requirements and motivation, so again is not definitive.
Compared to recent years, the
number of cases of reported cases of upper limb problems and back pain are
relatively stable. The number of psychological
problems reported to OH has dropped substantially, this may be a reduction in
the number of cases occurring or a reduction on the number of cases being
reported. However, the fact that there
have been relatively few severe cases is very positive (as this is not likely
to reflect underreporting).
In addition to the cases
summarised below, 4 cases of vibration related ill-health have been identified
and reported to the HSE under RIDDOR, in addition to 3 cases reported last year. These have been identified as a result of
health surveillance (i.e. looking for problems), and are historical rather than
newly occurring. It is possible that further cases will be identified as a
result of an ongoing health surveillance programme.
Date – February 2009
Copyright © Loughborough
University. All rights reserved.
Cases of newly
reported occupational ill health, 2005 - 2008
|
Nature of
condition |
Severity* |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
|
Back problem |
I |
4 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
II |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
III |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
IV |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
Total |
6 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
|
Upper limb
problem (“RSI”) |
I |
13 |
2 |
8 |
6 |
|
II |
10 |
9 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
III |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
Total |
25 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
|
Psychological
problem |
I |
3 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
|
II |
2 |
11 |
11 |
5 |
|
|
III |
7 |
8 |
8 |
3 |
|
|
IV |
3 |
4 |
3 |
0 |
|
|
|
Total |
15 |
28 |
30 |
14 |
|
Skin problem |
I |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
II |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
III |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Total |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Respiratory
problems |
Total |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Vision |
Total |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Severity Key
I No absence/small effect on work effectiveness, resolution
with work modification
II Absence
up to one month; marked effect on work effectiveness, or requirement for treatment
(physiotherapy, medication)
III Absence 1 – 6 months and /or significant impact
on health
IV Absence
greater than 6 months and/or need to make permanent job change due to health
effect