Why Reducing Work-Related Ill Health Is Now HSE’s Biggest Priority

Reducing work-related ill health has become one of the biggest challenges facing employers across Great Britain, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has made it a central focus of its long-term strategy. In its 2022 to 2032 strategy, HSE sets out a broad mission to protect people and places, with a strong emphasis on preventing both physical and mental harm caused by work.

This focus is not just important. It is overdue. Work-related ill health continues to affect a huge number of people across the country. HSE’s latest figures show that 1.9 million workers were suffering from a work-related illness in 2024/25, with stress, depression or anxiety and musculoskeletal disorders accounting for a large share of those cases. The impact is also measured in lost time, with work-related ill health leading to millions of lost working days each year.

Work-related ill health is not limited to one issue or one industry. It can include stress, anxiety, depression, back pain, repetitive strain injuries, respiratory diseases, hearing damage, occupational cancers, and illnesses linked to exposure to hazardous substances. In many cases, these conditions develop gradually, which can make them harder to spot and easier to ignore until the effects become serious. HSE highlights ill health statistics across a wide range of causes, including occupational disease, respiratory risk, vibration, noise, and mental health.

One of the biggest barriers to progress is awareness. Many employers still focus more heavily on visible accidents than on health risks that build up over time. Employees, meanwhile, may not always recognise the early warning signs of work-related ill health, or they may feel reluctant to raise concerns about stress, fatigue, workstation design, workload, or exposure to harmful substances. When issues go unreported, the root causes often remain unchanged.

That is why HSE has increased its guidance and campaigns in areas such as stress management, mental health at work, fatigue, and broader occupational health risks. Its guidance makes clear that prevention must come first. Employers are expected to assess risks properly, act on what they find, and create working conditions that do not harm people over time. HSE’s message is consistent: control the risks, not just the symptoms.

Addressing work-related ill health often means looking closely at how work is organised. Poorly designed workstations can contribute to musculoskeletal disorders. Excessive workload, lack of support, or badly managed change can increase stress. Exposure to dusts, fumes, chemicals, and noise can cause lasting physical harm. In some sectors, shift work and long hours can introduce fatigue risks that affect both health and safety. These are not isolated issues. They are management issues, and they require practical controls, better planning, and stronger day-to-day leadership.

HSE’s approach is also collaborative. Reducing work-related ill health is not something that regulators can achieve alone. It depends on employers, managers, workers, trade unions, and other stakeholders sharing responsibility for identifying problems early and putting sensible measures in place. This includes better risk assessments, stronger communication, clearer reporting routes, and a workplace culture where health concerns are taken seriously rather than dismissed.

The benefits of getting this right are significant. Healthier workers are more likely to stay engaged, productive, and resilient. Businesses can reduce absence, improve morale, and avoid the financial and operational costs that come with long-term sickness. There is also a wider social benefit. Preventing ill health at work reduces pressure on healthcare services and helps create fairer, healthier working lives for people across different sectors and backgrounds. HSE itself stresses the human and financial cost of failing to address workplace health risks.

HSE’s drive to reduce work-related ill health reflects a major shift in how workplace safety is understood. It is no longer enough to focus only on accidents and immediate injuries. Employers must also tackle the quieter, longer-term risks that can seriously damage people’s physical and mental wellbeing. With 1.9 million workers affected in 2024/25, the scale of the issue is clear. The challenge now is turning awareness into action and making healthier work a reality across Great Britain.