date: 10 December 2002 embargo: For immediate use

Attention: industrials, health and safety press

TUC warns that the UK is becoming a 'sickie nation'

Commenting on the workplace health and safety statistics released today (Tuesday), TUC General Secretary John Monks said:

"Britain is becoming a 'sickie nation' because of the stresses and strains of the modern workplace. If strikes were causing the loss of 40 million days a year, there would be howls of outrage and immediate legislation. But justified outrage about work-related illness and injury seems to come only from trade unions.

'Employers need to wake up and take action to make the working environment safer and less stressful, and the Government needs to deliver the resources to help employers prevent injuries and ill health and get people back to fitness and back to work, with more money for the HSE a top priority."

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Press release (300 words) issued 11 Dec 2002