The link between common health problems and workplace injury

Researchers at the University of Southampton, funded by the UK’s Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and Medical Research Council (MRC), have been analysing the risk of workplace injury arising from common health conditions treated by taking prescribed medication.

“As people work longer and the prevalence of chronic ill health rises in the workforce, so the need for proportionate risk-based evidence grows and assumes a greater importance,” said Kate Field, head of information and intelligence at IOSH.

“Good rehabilitation processes and a return-to-work plan with a focus on the individual can manage the process very effectively, but we have lacked direct evidence of the risk of workplace accidents from physical and mental ill health and associated medicines.

“We need evidence so that employers can make informed decisions and not apply undue restrictions on employees managing their health. This research by the University of Southampton provides new, robust, evidenced-based data on the risks.”

The research analysed a sample of 8000 anonymised medical records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). It found there was a moderate elevation of risk with some forms of physical and mental ill health and their associated medications, but no case exists for blanket exclusion of such individuals on health grounds.

The research reinforced earlier IOSH-funded findings into returning to work after cancer, which recommended individualised risk assessment as the sensible and proportionate way to manage such risks. The new research built on this, recommending that greater weight to individualised risk assessment is made for those whose health problems are currently active, for those engaged in safety critical occupations and for roles that bear substantial responsibility for the safety of others.

The records revealed that being prescribed psychotropic medication for a mental health disorder generally increased the risk of occupational injury by between 40 and 60%. Eye problems and ear problems, meanwhile, were associated with an increased risk of occupational injury of about 30–60% of cases sampled. Current UK employment practices concerning diabetes and epilepsy were found not to put workers with these conditions at undue risk of injury.

“The populations of Western countries are ageing,” said Professor Keith Palmer, who led the research. “The frequency of common age-related health conditions is therefore rising among the workforce, as is the proportion taking prescribed medicines.

“Potentially, such factors could increase the risk of accidental injury at work. The onus is on employers to manage any associated risks to health and safety equitably and appropriately.”

The report ‘The role of health problems and drug treatments in accidental injury at work’ can be viewed at www.iosh.co.uk/medication.