E063:08 5 December 2008

Offshore health and safety statistics go live

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its offshore health and safety statistics covering the period from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. The report contains injury and incident statistics and provides further detailed information about the provisional headline figures posted on www.hse.gov.uk in August 2008.

Copies of our Offshore report can be downloaded free from our website here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/information.htm   Hardcopies can also be obtained by contacting HSE on 0151 951 3156.

The number of injury accidents has reduced by 6.3% compared with 2006/07, and the overall injury rate per 100,000 employees has decreased by 6.2%, reflecting the maintained levels of activity offshore last year and the reduced numbers of over-3-day injuries.

The report shows an increase in the number of major injuries compared to 2006/07 and maintenance and construction remains the predominant contributor to all injuries.

Notes to editors

1. This is the eighth report in a series of Hazardous Installations Directorate (‘HID’) Statistics reports covering offshore injury and incident statistics, which continues from the previous OTO series.  Twelve reports have been produced since the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR ’95) were introduced offshore.
2. The report contains graphs plotting injury rates since 1995/96 and tables breaking down injuries by type; part of body injured; age of injured person etc.  plus cases of ill health reported since 1998/99. Details of reported dangerous occurrences are also given.
3. Changes to definitions introduced by RIDDOR ’95, particularly the definitions of major injuries meant that data relating to reported injuries prior to 1996/97 could not be compared with later figures.  The pre 1996/97 data was therefore reviewed and reclassified (in line with RIDDOR ’95), which means that all figures in this report can be compared.
4. Provisional headline figures were published on 13 August 2008 in HSE’s Offshore Safety Bulletin: http://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/statistics/stat0708.htm

HSE's Research Reports are available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/research/publish.htm.

Press enquiries (Journalists only)

Victoria Lucas Mon-Wed 0151 951 3957
Tori Hywel-Davies Thur-Fri 0151 951 3194
Out of hours: 020 7928 8382

Public enquiries

HSE's InfoLine 0845 345 0055
Textphone: 0845 408 9577
e-mail: hse.infoline@connaught.plc.uk

HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk