HSE 2022/3 Statistics Published: Why Health and Safety Must Top Employers’ Priorities

This week, the HSE published the annual work-related ill health and injury statistics for 2022/23. One headline figure shows that 1.8 million workers reported that they were suffering from work-related ill health in 2022/23, with approximately half of the cases down to stress, depression or anxiety. An estimated 35.2 million working days were lost in 2022/23 due to self-reported work-related ill health or injury.

The workplace should be a safe haven, yet 135 workers lost their lives due to work-related accidents and a further 561,000 sustained injuries at work. These statistics are not just numbers; they represent individuals who went to work but didn’t make it back unscathed.

In the intricate balance of managing a successful business, it is possible for some elements to slip through the cracks, but the picture is clear; the wellbeing and safety of employees should never be one of them. Prioritising health and safety is not just a legal requirement, but a strategic investment for any responsible employer. The costs of neglecting this imperative are not only measured in pounds and pence but in the lives and livelihoods of those who contribute their time and energy to the success of the company.

Examining the statistics in full, it is clear that it is time for employers to recognise the gravity of these figures. With 2024 on the horizon, a sensible new year’s business resolution for us all would be to take proactive steps to create environments where safety isn’t just a policy, but a way of life.