Health and Safety Executive

Table SWIT6E - 2006/07

Estimated incidence of self-reported illness caused or made worse by work, by type of illness, for people ever employed.

Type of complaint Sample cases Central estimate Estimated incidence (thousands) for people ever employed
95% C.I.
lower upper
Musculoskeletal disorders 442 247 223 270
  mainly affecting the upper limbs or neck 204 115 99 131
  mainly affecting the lower limbs 63 33 25 41
  mainly affecting the back 175 99 84 113
Breathing or lung problems 31 17 11 24
Skin problems 20 11 6 16
Hearing problems 11 * * *
Stress, depression or anxiety 447 245 222 268
Headache and/or eyestrain 20 11 6 16
Heart disease/attacks, other circulatory system 29 16 10 21
Infectious disease (virus, bacteria) 52 31 22 39
Other types of complaint 107 63 51 75
All illnesses 1159 646 608 685

Notes:

* Sample numbers too small to provide reliable estimates

Figures in italics are estimates based on fewer than 30 sample cases

95% C.I.: 95% confidence interval, the range within which we are 95% confident that the true value lies in the absence of bias.


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Updated 15.09.09