In the ten year period April 2000 to March 2010 almost 77,000 workers in the food and drink industries suffered an injury reportable to HSE and there were 36 fatal injuries (excluding contractors). In 2009/10 over 5000 injuries were reported (4185 'over-3-day absence' injuries plus 856 'major' injuries) representing a quarter (26%) of all manufacturing injuries. However injury rates vary widely between the 30 or so different food and drink industries, with some being above the average for all manufacturing industries and some below.
Since the joint HSE/food industry Recipe for Safety initiative commenced in 1990/91, the overall injury rate in food and drink manufacture has reduced by over 50% and each year continues to see fewer injuries reported.
Every year around 19,000 workers (nearly 5% of the workforce) suffer from ill health caused or made worse by work in food and drink manufacture. The risk of suffering occupational ill health is around twice that of sustaining an injury reportable to HSE.
Graphs and tables providing further detail:
