I would guess that increased attention to health and safety has contributed positively to decreasing incidents of long-term sick. In each of my last three organisations they made dramatic inroads into reducing LTS by taking H&S more seriously which is something to be considered when people say "Health and safety gone mad". Also trade unions have contributed significantly in this area too.

The exclamation mark suggests it was!

Would that make it a sick joke?

Don't say that – you can't praise trades unions on here, mate. Sal Paradise and friends will tell you that they're to blame for everything.

Just to add on the H&S issue. I used to work for Danone and although where I worked in the UK was some way behind what I would call really effective H&S management (the likes seen at companies like Heinz) it was already considerably better than Danone who are a global company which, until a couple of years ago, did not have any manufacturing facilities in the UK. Just before I left (as did the H&S Manager himself) they were talking about getting our H&S Manager more involved with European operations so that the company could improve itself in this area.

UK Health & Safety may impact negatively on some issues here, however we should not forget that we are a world leader in this area (especially in issues of food hygiene) and should be proud, not hateful, towards those that do contribute positively to our lives, often in ways which we don't always see.

I suppose on this particular thread it would!

I've never come across an excalamation mark denoting humour before.
Silly me.

Oh, I'd better explain ...my wink smiley there just denotes that I'm going for a cup of tea, OK?

I thought it denoted that you were going for a wink.
As the aristocracy might say.