The survey of 2,000 UK people who experience pain due to work was conducted in September 2021 by The Leadership Factor on behalf of Jacuzzi. It shows three in five (60%) tradespeople reporting lower back injuries, making it the most common injury sustained on the job, with shoulder pain (31%) coming second. Furthermore, half (50%) say they have taken time off work because of a health issue caused by their job. 

In construction, neck pain (32%) is the most common form of discomfort amongst workers, followed by arm pain (25%). 

Sadly, seven in ten (71%) construction workers say that they experience pain at work at least once a week, the highest percentage of any industry. Only 7% never experience any form of work-related pain. 

Nearly nine in ten (89%) of construction workers said that they’d taken time off due to injury, with 56% missing more than a week. 

In 2020 the Health and Safety Executive found that, in the construction industry, there were an estimated 81,000 work-related ill health cases (new or longstanding) with over half (57%) of these being musculoskeletal. Earlier this month another survey found that almost half (45%) of tradespeople have been seriously injured in an accident at work during their career.

Tracey Hudson, Executive Director, at HR Dept, said: “It’s worrying to see that regardless of the industry, a large portion of workers are experiencing pain, injury or discomfort as a result of their working conditions.   

“It’s no surprise to see back pain is the most commonly experienced form of pain, as this is an area of the body that’s put under considerable stress, whether you’re working at a desk or on a construction site. 

“If you experience pain due to your work, make sure to raise the issue with a line manager or your employer’s HR department, as they will take steps to ensure you are safe, and will work with Occupational Health or your GP who can often suggest changes to your working environment which can help prevent injury or the recurrence of pain."

See how the trades compare to other industries regarding work-related injuries.