The Health and Occupation Research Network
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
216032
Contact name
Raymond Agius
Contact email
Research summary
The Health and Occupation Research Network
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0129
Date of REC Opinion
23 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
The Health and Occupation Research (THOR) network is a surveillance scheme with the primary aim of monitoring incidence and trends in incidence of work-related ill-health in the UK. Reporting to THOR involves the systematic collection of incident cases on either a regular (every month) or sample (one randomly allocated month per year) basis by participating physicians (chest physicians, dermatologists, occupational physicians, and general practitioners). Data are collected through customised ‘web forms’ or postal returns (the choice of reporting method being tailored to suit the individual clinical specialties). For each case physicians are asked to provide information relating to diagnosis, age and gender, geographical region, occupation, industry, causal agent or risk factor and date of onset of symptoms. For each case reported to THOR-GP by general practitioners, data are also collected on onward referral, whether there have been any days of medically certified sickness absence associated with the case, and whether any adjustments have been recommended to workplace duties, hours, or environment.
Research programme
The overall aim of this programme of work is to estimate the incidence of work-related ill-health in the UK, including distribution by factors such as occupation, industry, causal factor, gender, age and geography. These data generated by THOR are recognised as a component of UK National Statistics by the UK Statistics Authority. They are extensively published by the UK Health and Safety Executive, notably on their website. The information regarding the incidence of occupational disease and work-related ill-health as well as possible causal factors is important to contribute to policy and practice. THOR informs and evaluates steps taken to protect the health of workers and prevent disease. THOR data have also been used to inform answers to Parliamentary Questions, and by other organisations including the Department of Work and Pensions and the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council. THOR also supports the schemes' participants through the provision of regular feedback and educational material, and provides an environment in which physicians can share information. Of importance, THOR offers an adhoc enquiry service, where the database is used to answer specific questions; the anonymised output from such interrogations are available to THOR reporters, the HSE, trades unions and other researchers/interested parties.
Research database title
The Health and Occupation Research Network
Establishment organisation
The Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Centre for Epidemiology
Establishment organisation address
Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester
Ellen Wilkinson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester
M13 9PL