Welcome to: Accidents in Work

Get experienced work accident compensation claims people on your case

A major survey conducted by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, has drawn a clear link between significant investment in occupational health and f reduced short and long term absence rates as well as improved employee welfare.

EEF has a membership of 6,000 manufacturing, engineering, and technology-based businesses and represents the interests of manufacturing. It is one of the UK's leading providers of business services in employment relations, employment law, health, safety and environment, manufacturing performance, and education and skills.

The survey showed that in over 600 companies 39% of them saw a reduction in short-term absence and 28% a reduction in long-term absence where there was OH support. With no OH provision there is a decrease of 22% and 19% respectively.

EEF stated the results were a "clear vindication that committing resources to tackling sickness absence and placing an emphasis on rehabilitation and getting people back to work can benefit both employers and employees."

Recent estimates suggest that the cost of incapacity benefit and long term sickness absence is just under £25billion.

The survey also showed that the manufacturing sector was investing more than others, with 65% of companies providing some form of occupational health service, over double the national average.

Professor Sayeed Khan, EEF's chief medical adviser said: "These figures demonstrate a clear link between addressing sickness absence and improved business performance. Those companies who still put this issue in the 'too difficult' tray would do well to sit up and take note of the very real benefits they would reap from tacking the problem."

EEF considered that the survey highlighted a number of policy issues. Only 10% of companies saw Government and HSE occupational health policies as the drivers for investing in this area. The EEF believe that this shows a need for a different approach if employers' attention is to be gained.

The overall sickness absence rate was 3.1% in 2005 or 7.1 working days lost per employee compared to 3.6% in 2004 (8.1 days).

The main cause of short-term absence was shown to be due to minor illness, followed by back pain and similar problems by 95% of companies. One third of employees did not have a single episode of sickness absence.

Surgery/medical test was the main cause of long-term absence (45%) followed by back problems (40%), non-work related injuries (26%), and stress (24%). Employers tended to use specialist occupational health or other consultancies for occupational health support rather than their GP.