date: 23 December 2002 embargo: 00.01 hrs, Tuesday, 7 January 2003

Attention: Welsh media

Welsh workplace hazards have created the most disabled workforce in Britain, reveals TUC survey

Wales’ workers are still facing the high levels of stress, RSI and back strain which have created the most disabled workforce in Great Britain, according to a TUC survey of workplace union safety reps published today (Tuesday) - more unemployed people in Wales are disabled than in any other part of Britain. But Welsh employers got the thumbs up for doing most to control health and safety risks.

The main issues of concern in Wales were:

• overwork and stress - 57% of workplaces;

• repetitive strain injuries (RSI) - 38% of workplaces;

• lone working - 36% of workplaces, the highest level in Great Britain;

• back strains - 35% of workplaces, the highest level in Great Britain; and

• display screen equipment (DSE) - 31% of workplaces.

• But Wales’ employers were rated top in Great Britain for carrying out the key legal requirement in health and safety - assessing the risks of work so that action can be taken to prevent injury and illness at work. 86% of employers had carried out a risk assessment, with 59% considered by union safety reps to be good.

Wales TUC General Secretary David Jenkins said:

'Workers in Wales face all the hazards of the modern economy - stress, RSI and back strains - which have created the most disabled workforce in Britain. At least employers are now heading in the right direction, and unions are willing to work in partnership to address the concerns and tackle the problems of health and safety in Wales. We need to prevent injuries, heal illnesses and get disabled people back to work.'

• Welsh levels of concern about dermatitis were two thirds higher than anywhere else.

Notes to Editors:

263 safety reps in Wales took part in the national survey, which the TUC conducts every two years. The full survey, Health and safety 2002, is published on 7 January as part of the TUC’s Trade Union Trends series. Copies are available priced £30 from TUC Publications (0207 467 1294.

All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

A series of TUC rights leaflets are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 8am-10pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.

Contacts:

Media enquiries: Liz Chinchen on 020 7467 1248 or 07699 744115 (pager) or email lchinchen@tuc.org.uk

Other enquiries: Owen Tudor on 07788 715261 (mobile) or otudor@tuc.org.uk or David Jenkins on 07887 797158

Press release (500 words) issued 7 Jan 2003