Workplace injury and ill-health take high toll on businesses, Croner warns

According to an analysis by Croner, based on data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), workplace injuries and new cases of work-related ill health in 2023/24 cost an estimated £21.6bn, with 29.6 million working days lost.

Croner highlighted the substantial financial and operational impact of health and safety incidents in the workplace.

Reports showed that 1.7 million workers suffered from work-related ill health during the year, with 609,000 of these being new cases.

Mental health conditions, including stress, anxiety, and depression, affected 776,000 workers, of which 300,000 were new cases.

Musculoskeletal disorders also accounted for a significant number of cases, impacting 543,000 workers and contributing to 7.8 million lost working days.

Fatal workplace accidents resulted in 138 deaths, while 61,663 non-fatal injuries were reported under RIDDOR.

In addition, lung disease caused by workplace exposure continues to claim an estimated 12,000 lives each year, with 20,000 new cases of breathing problems reported in 2023/24.