Work-related ill health
Any physical or mental health condition that is caused or made worse by work. The scope of what constitutes work-related ill health differs between frameworks but all three impose duties to prevent it.
Also known as
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“work-related ill health”SharedHSWA 1974 section 1 refers to securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at work, including protection against risks to health arising from or in connection with the activities of persons at work. MHSWR 1999 requires risk assessment to cover both safety and health risks. RIDDOR 2013 requires reporting of specific occupational diseases.
Irish HSA
“work-related ill health”SharedThe Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 section 8 requires employers to manage risks to health. Work-related ill health is a broad category encompassing occupational disease, work-related stress, musculoskeletal disorders and other conditions caused or worsened by work.
US OSHA
“occupational illness”SharedUnder 29 CFR 1904.5, a work-related illness is one where an event or exposure at work is a discernible cause or aggravating factor. Occupational illnesses are a recordable category on the OSHA 300 log. The OSH Act section 5(a) requires protection against recognised hazards including health hazards.
Practitioner note: Health effects accumulate quietly and surface late. Health surveillance, not accident statistics, is what detects them.