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Executive Summary of the HSE Report: Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security Statistics in Great Britain, 2023
This blog article is an executive summary of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report on public administration and defence; compulsory social security statistics in Great Britain for the year 2023. The report provides a comprehensive insight into workplace health and safety within the sector, covering aspects such as work-related ill health, fatal and non-fatal injuries, and their economic cost.
1. 138,000 Workers Suffered from Work-Related Ill Health
According to the Labour Force Survey (LFS), an estimated 138,000 workers experienced work-related ill health, either new or long-standing, over the three-year period from 2020/21 to 2022/23. This rate showed signs of increasing in the years leading up to the coronavirus pandemic, with the rate during the pandemic being higher than the 2014/15-2016/17 period (Source: LFS, average estimate over 2020/21-2022/23).
2. 3 Fatal Injuries to Workers in 2022/23
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) reported 3 fatal injuries to workers in 2022/23, compared to an annual average of 2 fatalities over the five-year period from 2018/19 to 2022/23 (Source: RIDDOR, 2022/23).
3. 36,000 Workers Sustained Non-Fatal Injuries
The LFS reports that 36,000 workers sustained non-fatal injuries over the three-year period from 2020/21 to 2022/23. The rate of self-reported non-fatal injury to workers had been broadly flat in the years prior to the coronavirus pandemic, with the rate during the pandemic being lower than the 2014/15-2016/17 period (Source: LFS, average estimate over 2020/21-2022/23).
4. Public Administration and Defence Account for 8% of the Workforce
The sector accounts for 8% of the workforce in Great Britain, according to the Annual Population Survey, 2022.
5. 61% of Work-Related Ill Health Were Stress, Depression or Anxiety
Of the estimated 138,000 workers suffering from work-related ill health, 61% were cases of stress, depression, or anxiety (Source: LFS, average estimate over 2020/21-2022/23).
6. 5.4% of Workers in the Sector Suffered from Work-Related Ill Health
Around 5.4% of workers in the sector suffered from work-related ill health, a rate significantly higher than the average for workers across all industries (4.1%) (Source: LFS, average estimate over 2020/21-2022/23).
7. 24,000 Workers Suffered from Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
An estimated 24,000 workers in the sector suffered from work-related musculoskeletal disorders, accounting for 17% of all ill health in this sector (Source: LFS, average estimate over 2020/21-2022/23).
8. 3.3% of Workers Suffered from Work-Related Stress, Depression or Anxiety
About 3.3% of workers in the sector suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, a rate significantly higher than that for workers across all industries (2.1%) (Source: LFS, average estimate over 2020/21-2022/23).
9. The Total Economic Cost of Work-Related Ill Health and Injury is £1.7 Billion
The total cost in 2021/22 is estimated at £1.7 billion, accounting for 8% of the total cost of all work-related ill health and injury (£20.6 billion) (Source: HSE Costs to Britain, 2021/22).
10. 3.2 Million Working Days Lost Due to Workplace Injury and Ill Health
About 3.2 million working days were lost each year due to workplace injury (13%) and work-related illness (87%). This equates to approximately 1.5 working days lost per worker, which is significantly higher than the all industry level (1.1 days) (Source: LFS, average estimate over 2019/20, 2021/22-2022/23).
Conclusion
The HSE report provides a comprehensive overview of the public administration and defence; compulsory social security sector in Great Britain. It highlights the prevalence of work-related ill health, particularly stress, depression, and anxiety, and the significant economic cost these conditions pose. This summary underscores the importance of proactive health and safety measures in the workplace to prevent injuries and ill health, ultimately reducing the economic burden on society.
