Health encyclopaedia

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Health and safety at work

There were 23.8 million people in employment in the UK in 2000 (1) Many of these people will spend a significant proportion of their waking hours at work.  Some of these people will also have illnesses caused by the type of work that they do.  Other people will be injured whilst at work.

Whilst it is impossible to make all jobs totally safe, there are laws which help to protect the workforce and ensure a safe working environment.  Additionally, employees have a responsibility to look after their own health whilst at work, taking sensible steps to protect themselves from hazards and avoid accidents.

The most common work-related ailments are musculoskeletal disorders like back pain, repetitive strain injury (RSI) and vibration white finger.  Others include stress, hearing loss, asthma, headaches and eyestrain and skin diseases like eczema and dermatitis.

Diseases and injuries associated with certain types of industry are quite rare but can be very serious. Examples include asbestosis, silicosis, mining accidents and train crashes.

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