HSE statistics for 2010/11

My colleague, Claire Anderson, who specialises in Health & Safety has reported on recent statistics published by the Health & Safety Executive:-

"The HSE have published their statistics for the year April 2010 to March 2011.  Overall the figures tend to show a fall in the number of work related injuries and illness.  However the number of fatal accidents has increased.

Judith Hackett, HSE’s chair said “Britain can be proud that it has one of the best health and safety records in Europe but as the increase in the number of fatalities makes clear we can never let up in our commitment to addressing the serious risks which continue to cause death and injury in workplaces.”

The key statistics are set out below:

 2009/2010  2010/2011

26,268          24,726       Major Injuries reported
96,427          90,653       Injuries causing over 4 day absence
1,300,000    1,200,000   Illness caused or made worse by work
147               171            Fatalities

It is noted that the Construction and Agricultural industries continue to report the highest levels of incidents.  To demonstrate, the overall major injury figures reported for this year equates to 99 injuries per 100,000 workers.  The same category of injury in the Construction sector is 173.2 injuries per 100,000 workers and for the Agricultural sector 221.9 per 100,000 workers.  Similarly, of all the fatal accidents, 50 were related to construction and 34 to Agriculture.

This is not to say that other sectors can sit back. 50 of the fatalities were related to the Services sector and 27 to Manufacturing so the requirement to continue the effort to comply with obligations under health and safety law applies across the board."

As ever health & safety is something which needs to be given the attention it deserves.