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Executive Summary: HSE Report on Work-related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) statistics in Great Britain
This blog post summarises the key findings from the annual HSE report on work-related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) statistics in Great Britain, 2022.
1. 15% of COPD cases are attributed to workplace exposures
According to several epidemiological reviews, approximately 15% of COPD cases are said to be linked to workplace exposures. This amounts to about 4,000 deaths per year in Britain the main culprit being occupational exposures to toxic dust, fumes, and vapours. (Refer to page 5 of the original document)
2. COPD primarily affects former coal miners
Former coal miners are particularly at risk of developing COPD due to their exposure to coal dust in their work environment. Acknowledging this, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) has been made accessible to this group of workers for a number of years. (Refer to page 4)
3. Approximately 30,000 deaths per year in Britain linked to COPD
Over the past decade, COPD has been recorded as the underlying cause of an average of 30,000 deaths per year. The main cause is attributed to smoking with workplace exposures also contributing significantly. (Refer to page 5)
4. Rough estimate of 1.5 million COPD prevalence in England and Wales
Since COPD is often under-diagnosed, estimations of COPD prevalence are tentative at best. However, one study suggests an estimated 1.5 million cases of COPD, taking into account those undiagnosed, in England and Wales alone. (Refer to page 5)
5. COPD accounts for around 4,000 workplace-related deaths annually
COPD has been linked to approximately 4,000 deaths due to worksite exposure—primarily to dust, gases, and fumes—every year in Great Britain. (Refer to page 6)
6. Certain professions present a higher risk of COPD
Jobs such as "seafarers and other boat operatives", "coal mine operatives", and "industrial cleaners", among others, exhibit a significantly higher prevalence of COPD compared to other occupations. (Refer to page 6)
7. COPD reported cases have been impacted by COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially affected the reporting and assessment of new COPD cases. Consequently, recent health and safety statistics may not accurately reflect the true annual number of new cases. (Refer to page 7)
8. Substantial decrease in annual reported cases since 2012
The past decade has noted a substantial decrease in the annual number of reported cases, with an average of 85 annually since 2012. In fact, during 2021, only 65 new cases were assessed. (Refer to page 7)
9. A total of 10 IIDB cases due to cadmium poisoning since 2003
Since 2003, there have been only 10 new cases of emphysema due to cadmium poisoning within the IIDB scheme. (Refer to page 7)
10. The number of SWORD-reported cases far lower than IIDB claims
Whilst the Health and Occupation Reporting (THOR) network annually records a significantly lower number of new cases compared to IIDB claims, an average of only 23 SWORD-reported cases per year has been recorded over the last decade. (Refer to page 8)
Conclusion
In summary, COPD constitutes a major public health issue in Great Britain, contributing to thousands of deaths annually. Although smoking remains a dominant causative factor, workplace exposures also play a significant role—contributing to 15% of cases.
In future, understanding more accurately the role of occupational exposure in COPD prevalence and mortality remains an important area of study.
