Council backs HSENI Workplace Health Campaign as work-related illness costs NI £390m a year

(L-R) Valeria Watts, Interim Chief Executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, David Nichol, HSENI Board Member, Elise Logan, Lead Environmental Health Officer,  Laura Hughes, HSENI Inspector,  Mayor Councillor Jackson Miniford, HSENI Deputy Chief Executive Nicola Monson, Clement Kennedy, Environmental Health Manager, John McVeigh, Interim Director of Community at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and HSENI Chief Executive Robert Kidd.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has joined forces with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) to help tackle the major causes of work-related ill health and improve the health and wellbeing of workers across the borough.

The partnership forms part of HSENI’s year-long Workplace Health Campaign, which focuses on occupational diseases including cancers, chronic lung conditions, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and work-related mental wellbeing.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the serious health conditions that can develop when workplace hazards are not properly controlled, while encouraging employers and workers alike to ensure risks are either removed or reduced to an acceptable level.

During a visit hosted by the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, HSENI highlighted the significant human and economic toll of work-related ill health in Northern Ireland.

It is estimated to cost society more than £390 million each year, with average figures suggesting over 300 deaths annually and thousands more people living with long-term health problems caused by their work.

Chief Executive of HSENI, Robert Kidd, said the council’s backing of the campaign would help reach more employers and strengthen the message around workplace health protection.

He said:

“These figures tell a stark story about the impact work-related ill-health is having on our society, our workforce and our health service. We need to take urgent action now to ensure every workplace is one where the health risks are properly managed.”

Mr Kidd added that behind every statistic is a personal story of loss, illness and long-term suffering.

“No one should lose their life or develop ill health simply as a result of the job they do. Yet, it is estimated that over 300 people die each year due to work-related disease and thousands more left living with serious and debilitating health conditions, with an estimated cost of over £390million per year to society. But these aren’t just statistics, they represent real people and real loss.”

Welcoming the council’s involvement, he continued:

“So, we are delighted that the Mayor and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is joining with us to help address this problem by supporting our Workplace Health Campaign, promoting our key messages and encouraging employers to take practical steps to protect workers’ health.

“Everyone deserves to return home with their health protected as well as their safety. By working collaboratively with the council we can reach more employers, share practical guidance and support healthier, more productive workplaces.”

Mayor Councillor Jackson Minford said protecting workplace health is a vital responsibility for employers and regulators alike.

He said:

“This campaign, and our support for it, says that workplace health is about more than compliance – it is about valuing people. A healthy workforce underpins productivity, engagement and stronger communities and local economy. Through this joint action to publicise the campaign across the borough, we hope to create healthier working environments and prevent occupational illnesses.”

HSENI’s most recent publication, Workplace Health Statistics and Analysis for Northern Ireland 2025, reveals the scale of the issue.

In 2023 alone, an estimated 110 deaths were linked to work-related Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), with 6,400 people suffering from work-related COPD. There were also 15 asbestosis-related deaths registered in 2022.

Occupational cancers remain a major concern, with average annual figures suggesting around 200 deaths attributable to workplace exposure. This includes 47 deaths from mesothelioma, a further 47 asbestos-related lung cancer deaths, 20 lung cancer deaths linked to silica dust exposure, and approximately 80 deaths from other work-related cancers caused by substances such as diesel engine exhaust emissions and mineral oils.

Other work-related illnesses continue to affect tens of thousands of people each year. During 2023–24, an estimated 18,000 people suffered from musculoskeletal disorders, 15,000 experienced stress, depression or anxiety linked to work, and a further 4,000 people reported other work-related illnesses such as skin conditions and hearing loss.

Overall, 640,000 working days were lost due to work-related ill health.

For further information, guidance and resources, employers and workers can visit Workplace Health | Health and Safety Executive.

More details on HSENI’s 2025/26 Workplace Health Campaign themes are available at:

• Occupational lung diseases: https://www.hseni.gov.uk/topics/occupational-lung-disease

• Occupational cancers: https://www.hseni.gov.uk/topics/occupational-cancers

• Work-related mental wellbeing: https://www.hseni.gov.uk/topics/mental-well-being-work

• Musculoskeletal disorders: https://www.hseni.gov.uk/topics/musculoskeletal-disorders

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland is the lead body responsible for the promotion and enforcement of health and safety at work standards in Northern Ireland and is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for the Economy.