Health and wellbeing was the top theme for concerns raised with us in 2023/24. Here's why health and wellbeing in the workplace matters.

Work site toilet welfare facilities

The second most common theme of CIRAS reports in 2023/24 was rules and procedure, and infrastructure issues was third.

Health with safety

Did you know you can raise concerns with us about how work impacts your and your colleagues' health and wellbeing, or the health and wellbeing of others?

Work can affect health and wellbeing in many ways. The environment around us plays a part in our health. When the environment is a workplace, occupational hygiene is one way of making sure it is a healthy place for people. This protects workers from hazards that could lead to serious ongoing illness if not controlled.

Good occupational hygiene can prevent illness, injury, and improve people's quality of life and long-term health. Some issues it considers include toxic substances, fumes, asbestos, dust and fibres, noise, physical stress, radiation, and vibration.

How we work and the tools we use can affect our health. A damaged piece of equipment could mean we aren't using it as intended, and so it could also damage us. For example, a tool might vibrate above the limit, or broken equipment cause us to stand or sit in a way that means we develop musculoskeletal issues.

Work can also impact mental health and stress. We listen to concerns that ways of working or workplace culture could be negatively impacting someone's mental wellbeing, where this could be affecting safety.

Health concerns

We have listened to more reporters raising concerns about smoking and vaping this year than in previous years. These concerns have been about passengers or staff smoking or vaping in unsuitable places, creating an unpleasant environment and risking the effects of passive smoking.

Other health-related concerns since 2023 include mould and damp, pigeon and rat droppings, pressure and workload, a lack of suitable handwashing or other welfare facilities, sewage, musculoskeletal risks, diesel fumes, brake dust, and ineffective procedures causing stress.

You can search health and wellbeing reports and company responses in the reports section of our website.

Help protect your health

  • Stay up to date with relevant health and safety training for your role, and any risk assessments.
  • Follow safety information, instructions and training you are given. 
  • Use control measures for your role, or for a task, correctly and appropriately.
  • Wear the right PPE for the job where needed.
  • Tell supervisors if risk assessments are out of date and no longer accurately reflect the task or role, for example because processes, procedures or responsibilities have changed.
  • Report any issues or concerns. Do you prefer to report concerns confidentially? You can use CIRAS to reach the right people but with your identity protected.

Reporting data

We collect our reporting data by asking you questions when we speak to you on the phone about your concern. We share aggregated data there is never identifying information. Trends or patterns can indicate emerging issues the industry might need to further investigate. For example, the rail industry has a road risk group as a direct result of CIRAS.

Find out more

Focusing in on pest concerns

Focusing in on smoking and vaping concerns

Health and safety is an equal partnership

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Articles on our reporting data