PART A READING EXERCISE :

WORKPLACE INJURIES IN THE U.K. - TIME LIMIT 15 MINS

x Read the following reading material about Workplace Injuries.

x You only have 15 minutes to scan and fill in the synthesizing exercise (2nd-last page)
– so only skim and scan read the reading material – do not spend a lot of time
reading it in depth
x When you have finished, check your answers (last page). Do not spend more than
15 minutes on this exercise.
WORKPLACE INJURIES IN THE U.K.
READING TEXT # 1 - TRENDS

Trends in workplace injuries, between 1974 and 2008 (U.K.)

x the number of fatal injuries among employees fell by 75%;

x the rate of fatal injury (per 100 000 employees) fell by 76%;
x the number of reported non-fatal injuries fell by 70%;
x there have been reductions in injury rates and numbers in all main industry sectors
x around 24% of the reduction in the rate of fatal injury in the last 10 years can be
attributed to a shift in employment away from manufacturing and heavy industry to
lower risk service industries;
x recent research suggests that about 50% of the reduction in non-fatal injury rate
since 1986 is due to changes in worker occupation.

For work-related ill health, the only consistent data going back to 1974 relates to certain
lung diseases. Between 1974 and 2006:

x deaths from pneumoconiosis fell;

x deaths from asbestos-related diseases rose (but current cases arise mainly from
exposure to asbestos 30-40 years ago);

Comprehensive data based on the Labor Force Survey are available on an ad hoc basis since
1990. Based on self-reported illnesses, these suggest that between 1990 and 2007/08:

x work-related illness prevalence fell;

x prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders fell;
x prevalence of stress-related ill health rose;
x the shift in employment may not have contributed to the overall fall (some service
sectors have relatively high rates of self-reported illness).

And here is more good news …

Copyright © Developed by Marg Tolliday & Assoc for the OET Workshop Nov. 2010 2
WORKPLACE INJURIES IN THE U.K.
READING TEXT # 2 - Earliest and latest U.K. data on injuries and ill health
since the introduction of the Health & Safety At Work Act, 1974

Earliest Latest
WORKPLACE INJURY
data data
1974 2007 / 08
Fatal injuries to employees (excluding health, education
651 166
and public administration employees)
Rate of fatal injury per 100,000 employees 2.9 0.7
Number of non-fatal injuries (excluding health, education
336,701 100,315
and public administration employees)
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES 1974 2006
Deaths from Pneumoconiosis 453 182
Deaths from Asbestosis 25 393
Deaths from Mesothelioma 243 2056
SELF REPORTED WORK-RELATED ILLNESS
1990 2007 / 08
(prevalence per 100,000 employed in the last 12 months)
Overall 5940 4170
Musculoskeletal disorders 2750 1810
Stress and work related conditions 820 1620
average 231 actual
FATAL INJURIES
for 2002-2007 180

1. In 1974 the injuries figures were limited to production and some service sectors.
2. Since 1974 three changes of reporting regulations have occurred, each of which
changed the definitions of the serious/major injury category. Earlier figures suffer
from under-reporting as today's figures do, but to an unknown extent.
3. Asbestos-related cancer: The rise was driven by increasing asbestos usage up to the
mid 1960s; the effect of subsequent reductions in asbestos usage are starting to see
a fall in the numbers of male deaths from this cancer in younger age groups.
4. Estimates of self-reported work-related illness are based on results from the Labor
Force Survey. They have been adjusted: the coverage is approximately consistent
(e.g. limited to people who worked in the last 12 months in England and Wales only),
and even then are still affected by factors such as differences in survey design and
level of information collected.
5. It is probable that awareness of and attitudes to work-related stress changed during
the 1990s, and this may have increased reporting. Between 2001/02 and 2004/05,
the earlier rise in the numbers appeared to level off, and has since fluctuated.

Copyright © Developed by Marg Tolliday & Assoc for the OET Workshop Nov. 2010 3
WORKPLACE INJURIES IN THE U.K.

READING TEXT # 3 - Fatal Injury Statistics - 2008 / 2009 – U.K.

x The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2008/09 is 180,
and corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.6 per 100 000 workers.

x The figure of 180 worker deaths is 22% lower than the average for the past five
years (231). In terms of the rate of fatal injuries, the latest figure of 0.59 per 100 000
workers is 23% lower than the five-year average rate of 0.77.

x The finalised count of fatal injuries to workers for 2007/08 was 233, representing a
net increase of 4 compared to the provisional figure of 229 released last year. A few
incidents occurring towards the end of the period can be reported late; while some
fatal investigations can take time to conclude, with the records being updated
accordingly as the latest information becomes available.

x There were 94 members of the public fatally injured in accidents connected to work
in 2008/09 (excluding railways-related incidents).

U.K. Worker fatalities by main industry

x In agriculture there were 26 fatal injuries in 2008/09 with a corresponding rate of

5.7 deaths per 100 000 workers. This compares to a rate of 9.9 when an average of
the previous five years is examined.

x In construction there were 53 fatal injuries, with a rate of 2.4 deaths per 100 000
workers. An average of the previous five years shows a rate of 3.4. There is an
overall downward trend in the rate of fatal injury to workers in this sector.

x In manufacturing there were 32 deaths and the rate of fatal injury was 1.1 per 100
000 workers, the same as the average rate for the previous five years.

x In the services sector there were 63 fatalities, and the rate of fatal injury in 2008/09
is the same as the average rate for the previous five years (0.3).

Copyright © Developed by Marg Tolliday & Assoc for the OET Workshop Nov. 2010 4
WORKPLACE INJURIES IN THE U.K.

READING TEXT # 4 - Exposure to lead poisoning in the U.K.

Lead poisoning is a medical condition caused by excessive exposure to and absorption of

lead. Symptoms of lead poisoning are varied and can occur in other medical conditions.
Exposure to lead can lead to a range of medical problems, which is why a regime of
surveillance of workers in lead industries is undertaken in the United Kingdom. The vast
majority of individuals with blood lead levels above the suspension level and who are
suspended from lead work, do not have lead poisoning, but they are removed from further
exposure to lead to prevent them developing the condition.

x The total number of workers under medical surveillance in 2007/08 fell to 8,069
from the 8,697 of 2006/07. Of these 8,069 persons, 7,752 (96%) were male and 317
(4%) were female.

x There were 7 young people (under 18 years) under surveillance in 2007/08; all of
which were male.

x Three industry sectors account for the majority of males working with lead, these
being smelting, refining, alloying and casting (17.2%), the lead battery industry
(14.4%) and manufacture of inorganic and organic compounds (9.4%).

x The three industry sectors that account for the majority of females working with
lead are the lead battery sector (24.9%), the metallic lead and lead containing alloys
sector (22.1%) and the smelting, refining, alloying and casting sector (13.9%)

x The proportion of male workers with blood-lead measurements at or above the

60µg/100ml level has dropped from around 1% in 2006/07 to 0.5% in 2007/08 of the
total male workforce. There were 248 (3.2%) individuals recorded to have a blood
lead measurement above the recommended action level of 50µg/100ml.

x Since 2006/07 the proportion of female workers with blood-lead levels at or above
30µg/100ml has fallen to 1.3% of the total female workforce. There were 12 females
(3.8%) who were recorded to have a blood lead measurement above the
25µg/100ml recommended action level.

x In 2007/08, a total of 29 males were suspended from work due to levels of blood
lead exceeding 60 µg/100ml.

x In 2007/08, no females were suspended due to blood lead levels exceeding 30

µg/100ml.

Copyright © Developed by Marg Tolliday & Assoc for the OET Workshop Nov. 2010 5
PART A READING - WORKPLACE INJURIES IN THE U.K.
SYNTHESISING EXERCISE Complete the gaps – write answers in the
right hand column.
The incidence of workplace injuries in the U.K. has fallen dramatically 1
since
2
1.
1974, …………. per 100,000 employees. Non fatal injuries fell by
2. 3 3
………… Changes in ………………… ……………………… . since 1986
are believed to be the reason behind this big reduction in the non-fatal 4

injury rate. According to the U.K. data, while deaths from 5

4. 5.
…………………..... fell, deaths from …………………….. …………………
6
6
diseases rose. In the 17 years since 1990, ………………… . related ill
7
health was up, and …………………….. 7. related illness went down.
8
The Table in Reading 2 paints another picture. ………………….. 8. workers 9
9.
died from Asbestosis in 1974, jumping to …………………… by 2007/08.
10.
10
Mesothelioma deaths numbered ………………. in 1974 but had risen
…………….. –fold (11)
by 2007/08. So what are some of accepted reasons 11

for these changes? It is felt that rises and falls in the usage of 12
12
……………………… . is reflected in the rises and falls in the data with
13
regard to asbestos-related cancer and asbestosis. Another factor is
13 14
differences in …………………… ………………….. . and data ……………………
14.
Since the 1970s, attitudes to and awareness of ………………….. 15
15
………………….. …………………… . have changed resulting in improved 16
16.
…………………….. Injuries due to stress and work related conditions
17
numbered ……………….. 17. back in 1974. The 2007/08 figure of ……………
18. 18
could be due to better and more reliable reporting.
19
In the 3rd reading, workplace fatality statistics are given for the period 20
2008-2009. It is heartening to see that fatal injuries of 0.59 per
19.
21
100,000 workers is about one ……………… lower than the five-year
average rate of 0.77 per 100,000. The industries reporting the most 22

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2010
fatalities in the 2008-2009 period in the U.K. were ………………….. 20.
……………………….. 21. manufacturing and the services sector. The one
sector that experienced a significant reduction in death was in
…………………. 22. with 5.7 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2008-09,
( 23)
down from ……………… per 100,000 over the previous five years.
23
The construction sector experienced an overall …………………….
24. 24
……………….. Both manufacturing and the services sectors
25. 25
experienced ………… change
in their average fatality rates over a five year period. 26

27
The data on exposure to lead poisoning in the U.K. (text # 4) makes for 28
chilling reading. In the U.K. workers in lead industries are watched and
29
monitored. If blood lead levels rise too high, the worker is removed
30
26.
from further exposure. Clearly, lead industries are ………………..
31
dominated, with 96% males and 4% female workers in 2006/07.
32
17.2% of male workers mostly work in smelting, alloying, casting and
……………… 27. while a quarter of females working in lead industries,
do so in the …………… ……………….. 28. sector. The recommended
healthy lead levels in blood is ……….. 29. per 100ml – after which
action is taken. However, it would seem that since 2006/07, very
high lead levels in the blood (those exceeding 30 to 60µg/100ml)
have been declining: only …… % 30. of the total female workforce
with a total of only …….. 31. males suspended in 2007/08 with
32.
blood lead levels above 60µg/100ml. In 2007/08 ……. f e male s
needed to be suspended due to high blood lead levels – a good
sign.

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