Britain’s manufacturers have built a global reputation for driving down fatalities and managing physical risk, but new research from Make UK warns that rising workplace stress and long-term ill health now pose a growing threat to productivity.

The independently conducted survey of 250 senior decision makers and 200 shopfloor workers shows a sector with robust systems for manual handling and hazardous substances, yet comparatively weaker structures around wellbeing and stress.

While 91% of companies have risk assessments in place for manual handling and 80% for chemicals and substances, only 60% assess wellbeing and just 48% assess stress. Training follows the same pattern: 84% provide manual handling training and 78% training on chemicals and substances, but only 54% provide stress training. On the shopfloor, just 33% of workers say they receive training on stress.

The findings also reveal a perception gap between boards and the workforce. 

Almost three quarters (72%) of senior decision makers say their Board takes a proactive approach to health issues, and 64% say their Board is leading on health overall. On the shopfloor, only 67% and 48% respectively agree.

The report lands as 1.9 million people are suffering from work-related ill health in 2024/25, up 200,000 on the previous year, with the entire increase driven by stress, depression and anxiety.

Chris Newson, Director of Environment, Health & Safety at Make UK, said:

“The number of fatalities in UK workplaces has fallen consistently, establishing the UK as a global leader in workplace health and safety. This is a significant and hard-won achievement. However, while fatalities remain an important indicator, an over-reliance on them can risk masking wider issues. The data suggests that trends in wellbeing and long-term ill health are worsening with the size of the problem growing, not shrinking. This demands a more rounded approach from companies to workforce health.

“Given the societal costs associated with workplace ill health this is also an issue Government cannot ignore. It should now implement the recommendations of the Mayfield Review in full, most notably:

- Make the Health Working lifecycle an accredited standard that employers can measure themselves against.
- Launch a range of funding options to support tangible wellbeing initiatives.
- Promote a joined-up approach between employers, government and the health service.”

Almost a third of companies do not provide an Employee Assistance Programme. With Statutory Sick Pay from Day 1 expected to cost business £400m a year, Make UK argues that failing to invest in preventative wellbeing support could prove more costly in the long term.