Every year, about 10 million of the 150 million workers in the European Community are affected by incidents,” accidents” or diseases at work.

Rubber protector

Safety inspection

A working fire extinguisher

Rules and regulations

While only about 300 workers receive disablement benefit for industrial dermatitis every year, there may be between 15,000 and 60,000 new cases of this condition every year.

These figures are gross underestimates of the true incidence of occupational ill-health.

According to UK official statistics, every year about 2000 lives are lost through occupational disease or injury, about 20,000 major industrial injuries occur (e.g. skull fracture, loss of sight) and there are about 200,000 injuries resulting in a work disability of 3 days or more.

We are now focusing on the adverse effects of work on health, although the positive effects of appropriate work on health and well-being are no less important.

Work is an important determinate of health. It can influence health positively or negatively.