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Every day, millions of people go to work expecting to return home healthy and well. Yet, some of the most serious risks to our health at work remain hidden. They often develop over time, without obvious warning signs, until the effects become life changing, limiting, or ending.
Hidden Hazards is British Safety Council's new flagship campaign to stop hidden hazards once and for all. By shining a light on the workplace health issues that are too often overlooked, raising awareness of their impact, and helping employers, employees and decision makers take action before harm happens; we hope to create workplaces in which all workers can return home safely at the end of each day.
When it comes to workplace health, the biggest risks are not always visible, but their impact is.
Together, we can make hidden hazards impossible to ignore.
Is your new kitchen worktop worth killing the person who made it? Each year, around 500 workers die from exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS). The damage to their lungs is permanent, shaving decades of their lives, but it doesn't have to be this way. Every case of silicosis is preventable with the right controls.
Explore the silicosis campaign
Stress is making hundreds of thousands of workers ill, across the United Kingdom. In 2024/25, 964,000 workers suffered work-related stress, depression or anxiety, resulting in 22.1 million working days lost. Poor mental health isn't an unavoidable part of working life. It's a hidden workplace hazard and we can turn the tide on stress, support workers, and help them to thrive.
Each year around 5000 worker deaths are linked to historic Asbestos exposure, making it the UK’s biggest work-related killer. Despite a comprehensive ban in 1999, millions of people are exposed to asbestos in their workplaces today, the full effects of which won’t be felt for decades. From nurses and teachers in crumbling public buildings to children in prefabricated classrooms, a fourth wave of asbestos exposure threatens to harm the health of the workers of today and tomorrow.
You can't always see the air that's making you sick, but its impacts kill approximately 8 million people each year around the world. Every day, workers breathe in harmful dust, fumes, and airborne contaminants that cause lifelong illnesses. The danger is invisible, but clean air, good ventilation, and effective controls can prevent harm before it starts.
Hidden Hazards is more than an awareness campaign. It's a growing hub of trusted information, practical resources, and opportunities to take action.
As the campaign develops, employers, workers, health and safety professionals and policymakers will be able to access:
From understanding workplace health risks to taking meaningful action, our resources are designed to help you recognise hidden hazards, prevent exposure and create healthier workplaces.
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