Health and safety statistics show Britain could do better 30 October 2014

Injury and ill-health statistics released yesterday (29 October 2014) by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that some 28.2 million working days were lost due to work related ill health or injury in 2013—14.

In brief detail, HSE's report records 133 fatal injuries in the period – a fall from 150 in the previous year. 77,593 other injuries were also reported under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013).

And an estimated two million people in 2013—14 suffering from an illness they believed was caused or made worse by current or past work.

HSE chair Judith Hackitt says that while the cost to society is around £14.2 billion (2012—13 figures based on 2012 prices), behind every number is the reality of a real person being killed, or suffering injuries or ill health while simply doing their job.

"We should remind ourselves what these numbers actually mean – the number of times in the last year someone went out to work and either did not return home, or came home with life changing injuries," she says.

"The health numbers also demonstrate the scale of harm being done to people's health while at work, too often leading to premature death," she continues."

Hackitt makes the point that, while Britain has one of the best health and safety systems in the world, that is cold comfort to these people.

Industries most prone to injuries have not changed significantly – with construction (1,900 major/specified injuries), agriculture (292), manufacturing (3,159 and waste and recycling (486) among the higher risk sectors.

Brian Tinham

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Health & Safety Executive

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