Waste sector sickness absence double UK average

Workers in the waste and recycling industry take almost twice as many days off due to sickness every year compared to employees in other sectors, according to initial findings of a survey being conducted by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL).

The survey, Work related ill health and sickness absence in the waste and recycling industry, is to last for three years with the final results due in 2013. The data is being collected from waste management companies and local authorities throughout the UK and covers 3,000 employees, about 2,000 of whom work for public sector employers.

The HSLs sickness absence survey has found that each worker in the waste sector takes, on average, 12.3 days off per year due to sickness. The HSL has compared this to data collected by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) which has found that the average UK employee only takes 6.4 days off sick per year.

Steven Naylor, senior scientist at HSL, explained that the high level of public sector employees in the waste industry was a contributing factor to the rate of sickness absence. Rates of absences are traditionally higher in the public sector compared to the private sector, he said.

Insight

Mr Naylor said more data would be available at the end of the three year survey allowing a better insight into why the rate of sickness absence is so much higher in the waste industry.

However, he noted that only a small percentage of sickness absence was due to work related illness. Only 20% of the absences that workers take are due to work related problems.

Stomach and digestion-related illnesses account for almost 20% of absences with a further 20% due to back problems. Mental health problems account for 5%.

In terms of actual roles within the waste sector, the survey has found so far that refuse collection workers had a higher rate of sickness absence than others in the sector with almost 15% taking off periods of 25 continuous days or more due to sickness. Mr Naylor added that again the high level of public sector employees in this part of the industry was the reason for this.

The survey is designed to help characterise the profile of ill health for specific work areas and to better understand the reasons for sickness absence in order to reduce it.

All participating companies receive a breakdown of the figures annually, rather than at the end of the full three years, allowing them to action any health and safety improvements as soon as possible.