What is the occupational health profile of the GB workforce and how do different work (e.g. trade/tasks) and demographic factors contribute to this?

Background

HSE Strategic Objective: Reduce work-related ill health, with a specific focus on mental health and stress (https://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/assets/docs/the-hse-strategy.pdf)

To increase our understanding of the extent, harm, costs and preventability of exposure to risks that lead to work-related ill health. Specifically, focussing on the most common causes of work-related ill health in GB – work related stress, musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory ill health.
HSE’s approach to reducing work-related ill health across Great Britain’s workplaces will be to focus on reducing exposure to health risks. This will be achieved through applying science, engineering and analysis to set protective standards and by working with key stakeholders to design and implement interventions that prevent harm. It is expected that a tangible impact on reducing work-related ill health will be achieved by:
• Driving sustainable compliance with established control standards;
• Establishing new and more efficient control measures to prevent workers being exposed;
• Building an evidence base that discovers, analyses and validates understanding of work-related risks to workers’ health;
• Securing competent, effective and timely support services from Occupational Health providers and consultants.

Our programme of science, engineering and analysis will focus on providing the evidence to underpin, validate and evaluate these key activities. As the nature of work can change rapidly, we will also further develop our understanding of emerging health risks and appropriate effective control measures.
Questions and identified needs arising within this area of research are detailed below.