Work-Related Stress and Ill-Health Statistics
HSE’s latest round of annual statistics for work-related ill-health and injury identified and reported that nearly 50% (around half) of reported ill-health in the 2023 – 2024 period was related to stress, depression or anxiety.
That’s an estimated 776,000 cases, with 300,000 of these being new cases in this annual reporting period.
It is also estimated that each of these takes an average of 21.1 days off work.
That is a staggering 16.4 million working days lost.
Industries Most Affected
The three main industries affected by this were:
- Public Admin / Defence;
- Human health / social work; and
- Education.
But it does not matter what industry you are in, all businesses, as employers are required by law to prevent work-related stress and support good mental health in the workplace, which means including stress in your risk assessment process and acting on the findings.
Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace
To help you in this endeavour, HSE provides, via the Working Minds campaign a plethora of information and aids to help employers manage this issue.
We at Kingfisher also provide information, checklists and risk assessment assistance (format and what to look to include). There are 5 steps to preventing stress in the workplace:
- Reach out (have conversations) by providing a pathway that employees can use to reach out for assistance, allowing those conversation to start, or just ask; how are you today?;
- Recognise, through understanding, the signs and causes of stress in your workplace;
- Risk assess and then Respond to any risks that have been identified;
- Reflect on actions you’ve agreed and taken. Did they work in the way intended? And
- Make it Routine – how can this become a part of the day / week?
HSE are also providing a FREE webinar regarding on Managing work-related stress on: Tuesday 28 January, at 10:30am. Use the link to claim your place.
Ensuring Compliance with Health and Safety Laws in 2025
To ensure your business does not fall foul of health and safety law in 2025.
- Conduct risk assessments as and when required (prior to undertaking activities).
- Provide training regarding the risks involved and how to manage them.
- Supervise risk management, as necessary, until competence is demonstrated.
- Formally review risk assessments and associated safe systems of work, regularly.
- Update training provided (toolbox talks, in-house or external formal training).
- Keep / update records of all the above processes.
How We Can Help
If you need help with any health & safety related issue do not hesitate to contact your health & safety consultancy. We can provide advice / assistance with:
- Your legal requirements with regards to safety and health.
- The management of health and safety – generally or specific to business activity.
- The risk assessment process and how to conduct and record risk assessments
- Required conduct – as per legal requirements to meet when managing an activity.
- Required health surveillance – as per the activity.
- How to evidence due diligence conducted.
Training needs and how they can be met (provided and recorded).