A study by the TUC found that stress, back problems and physical assaults are regularly reported by women workers.

The union organisation called for a new approach to health and safety to tackle the problems..

Safety laws have been drawn up with men's issues in mind, says the TUC report, published to mark International Workers Memorial Day.

The TUC urged the Health and Safety Commission to make women's health a priority and issued new guidance to union safety reps.

TUC general secretary John Monks said: "It is not acceptable to have health and safety guidance which works just for men. Work must be safe for everyone."

The study found:

One in ten women aged between 25 and 34 have been attacked by a member of the public.

Over 100,000 women suffer back problems every year because of their work.

Twice as many women as men suffer from work-related headaches and eyestrain.

Over 200 people died at work in the 1997/98 financial year.

There were over 150,000 injuries in the same year, official figures show.

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