19 May 2004

Reducing workers' ill health must be given 'higher priority'

Protecting the health of Northern Ireland's labour force must be given much higher priority if the toll of workplace ill health is to be reduced across the province.

This was the stark message by HSENI Chairperson, Liam McBrinn who was addressing the ‘Stresses and Strains of Managing Health and Safety’ Conference in Co Antrim on Wednesday.

Addressing delegates at the Dunadry Inn, Mr McBrinn revealed that 70,000 people across Northern Ireland suffer from ill health caused or made worse by work each year.

"The overall cost of work-related ill health to society, employers and the individuals themselves is enormous – estimated to be in the region of £330 million per year," Mr McBrinn said. "In total, it is estimated that 365,000 working days are being lost annually.”

Stressing the importance of managing health in the workplace to improve workers’ health, he continued: “We all need to work together to ensure that people’s working lives are not cut short by disabling illness or injury.

"Today, more than ever before in the world of work, people with their skills and knowledge are our most important asset. Work gives a sense of purpose, social contacts, status income and a sense of belonging.

“The branding of the Conference 'Together we’ll make it better', is a very simple but telling statement - it is up to us all to work together.

"Health isn’t everything but without it you have nothing - it is the cornerstone of our lives, the means by which we realise our full potential, and it is an essential building block of our well-being," Mr McBrinn concluded.

(MB)