29 November 2004 - TUC 2004 Survey on Stress and Musculoskeletal in the Workplace
Stress related ill-health in the workplace shows an increase of 2%, RSI has risen by 3%, with back strain showing the largest rise of 4%. Other work-related ill-health factors show the following:
- slips and trips moved into 5th place of the workplace hazards, previously being in 7th place in 2002.
- only 53% of employers are deemed by the survey to be carrying out adequate risk assessments, the greatest deficiency in this respect being exhibited by local government and education.
- only 44% of safety reps report being involved in the process of risk assessment.
- where employers provide occupational health services, these are 'less concerned with health promotion and accident prevention, than sickness monitoring and disciplinary assessments.
- stress is worst for workers in banking and finance (83% reported that stress was a big problem);
- the most stressed out regions are Scotland and the South West.
- 39% of union safety reps said that their workplace had never been inspected by HSE/LA officials.
The TUC General Secretary commented:
"The top 5 workplace hazards are all easily preventable, yet too few employers seem to be getting to grips with preventing accidents and ill health at work. Meanwhile stress, RSI, back strain, slips and trips and problems caused by display screen equipment continue to cause pain and distress to thousands of workers and cost the UK economy millions.
"A simple risk assessment involving the expert guidance of trade union safety reps. could dramatically reduce the risk of hazards in most workplaces. Yet, despite being required by law to carry them out, large numbers of employers still fail to do so. The HSE must get tougher with negligent bosses who continue to be reckless with the safety and well-being of their workforce".
Article by Alexandra Johnston
