One in three firms overlook long-term health risks

Research from employment law, HR and health and safety specialists WorkNest found that while over half (51%) of organisations say they give equal focus to preventing accidents and managing long-term health risks, in practice very few prioritise health risks alone.

Just 2% of organisations said their primary focus is managing long-term health risks, compared to 37% who focus mainly on preventing accidents and incidents.

This comes as the Health and Safety Executive continues to place greater emphasis on health risks such as musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory conditions and noise-related hearing loss, which account for a significant proportion of work-related ill health in the UK.

Nick Wilson, director of health and safety services at WorkNest, said: “In many organisations, long-term risks are still not receiving the same level of attention as accidents. Accidents are often more visible and immediate, so naturally attract focus. Whereas long-term health risks develop over time, which makes them easier to overlook. For less physically laborious businesses, such as office-based occupations, musculoskeletal issues and stress, often pose a bigger risk than a slip or trip. 

The research also highlights inconsistencies in how organisations recognise and manage long-term health risks. 83% of respondents said they actively manage musculoskeletal issues such as back pain and repetitive strain and 75% manage work-related stress. However, less than half said they manage exposure to hazardous substances (49%) or noise-related hearing loss (41%), despite these being core areas of focus for the HSE.

Almost one in 10 (9%) of organisations admitted they do not formally recognise or manage long-term health risks at all.

The long-term health risks that are most likely to be overlooked were repetitive strain from daily tasks (35%) followed by musculoskeletal issues such as posture and manual handling (17%).

Nick Wilson added: “These overlooked areas are some of the most common causes of work-related sickness. Taking a proactive approach to identifying and controlling these risks is essential, particularly for SMEs who may not have dedicated health and safety resources.”

WorkNest supports employers with pragmatic employment law, HR and health and safety advice, alongside hands-on support and targeted manager training to help organisations review risk assessments, manage workplace stress risks and ensure their processes stand up to regulatory scrutiny.