Better occupational health needed to tackle work sickness issue, says IOSH

The report reveals the findings of a survey which show that one in six workers aren’t confident their employer would support them to stay in or return to work if they had a long-term physical health condition or disability. Meanwhile, one in five believe they wouldn’t get adequate support if they had a mental health issue.

IOSH today (Friday 26 September) launches the report, called Fixing sick Britain: getting people back to work through good occupational health and safety. This features contributions from several organisations and a number of recommendations from IOSH, including:

• government investment in strong occupational health systems, with a focus on preventing health problems
• dedicated support for small and medium-sized businesses 
• targeted public health programmes to address health risks early
• incentives for employers to provide healthy working environments, including good work-life balance.

The report has been released ahead of an IOSH fringe event at the Labour Party Conference. This panel session, called Healthy workers, stronger economy: Labour’s occupational health opportunity, will include Sir Charlie Mayfield, who is leading the Government’s Keep Britain Working Review.

IOSH hopes the event will give much-needed impetus to a better occupational health system, which will go hand-in-hand with occupational safety and health, with 2.8 million working-age adults currently out of work because of ill health. It’s estimated this costs businesses £150bn a year, while it also places pressure on the NHS and benefits system. 

Despite this, only 45 per cent of UK workers currently have access to occupational health provision. IOSH’s survey of 1,100 workers, conducted by YouGov, showed that nearly three-quarters of workers believe there should be universal occupational health services provided at a local level.

Ruth Wilkinson, IOSH Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said: “As part of this, we need stronger, more accessible occupational health services that can drive prevention strategies, promote good health and help people stay in work, as well as support return to work and rehabilitation when people do become ill. This can help to cut sickness rates, ease NHS and benefit pressures, and boost economic growth.

“We’re calling on the Government to invest in this area. And we don’t just want this to be something which benefits those employed in large organisations; this needs to cover smaller employers to ensure that people are able to remain healthy and safe and remain in work for the benefit of both themselves and the economy.”

Ruth added: “We believe occupational health and occupational safety and health are most effective when they work hand-in-hand to prevent injury and ill health and create safe, healthy and supportive working environments. The former offers the expertise to promote and support health, wellbeing, and recovery while the latter provides the framework for identifying hazards and managing risks.”

The IOSH fringe event is being held on Sunday 28 September, the opening day of the conference in Liverpool. As well as Sir Charlie, the panel will consist of Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher, IOSH CEO, Sasjkia Otto, Senior Researcher from the Fabian Society, Christina McAnea, General Secretary of Unison, and Nick Pahl, CEO of the Society of Occupational Medicine.