East of England employers asked to make New Year safety resolution

New figures show extent of workplace safety failings in local area

Date:

29 December 2009

Release No:

E/046/09

Employers across the East of England are being asked to ensure their workers are kept safe in 2010 as Britain's safety watchdog urges improvement on last year.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), last year almost 232 work-related incidents occurred across the East of England each week, an annual total of 2,049 people being killed or injured.

HSE hope this figure will act a stark reminder to employers and staff to make their workplaces safer this New Year and drive down casualty rates.

The 2008/09 statistics show twelve people were killed at work across the region while 2,449 sustained major injuries and a further 9,588 suffered injuries requiring more than three days absence from work. The figures compare with 19 fatalities, 2,541 major injuries and a further 9,756 injuries requiring more than three days absence from work in 2007/08.

Including other absences due to ill health caused by work activities, this equates to 2.6 million working days lost at a massive cost to the economy and individual businesses, which is why HSE says it makes perfect sense to make working environments safe.

The organisation warns that if employers insist on compromising the health of their employees then it will not hesitate in taking enforcement action.

Last year HSE prosecuted 122 firms for breaching health and safety in the East of England and took action against another hundreds in the form of issuing prohibition and enforcement notices.

Heather Bryant the HSE's East of England Regional Director, said:

"Behind these statistics are the real life stories of hundreds and thousands of people and families dealing with real hardship, pain and suffering.

"The New Year is an opportune time to reflect on the number of incidents in the past 12 months, and try and stop the same patterns being repeated.

"Many of these injuries are entirely preventable. We implore employers to exercise leadership in their workplaces - showing commitment, setting and example and making sure practical action is taken to manage day-to-day risks.

"And there is plenty of evidence to show that involving employees with this also improves health and safety performance."

Britain boast one of the best health and safety records in Europe but with 180 workplace deaths nationally last year, HSE say there is still much to be done.

Heather added: "Simple assessments of risk, ease of tasks, accessibility, protection from harmful substances and training can and do prevent many incidents.

"HSE works with a number of partners to provide free advice and education to those both carrying out and managing work. We want businesses and the self-employed to work with us to help reduce injuries and make the East of England a safer place to work.

"Every employee has the right to return home from work safely each day and I hope employers in the East of England share that view and take steps to ensure that is the case."

Notes to editors

1. "HSE is Britain's national regulator for workplace safety and health. It aims to reduce injuries and illness in the workplace."
2. The figures relate to the financial year 2008/2009.
3. The statistics broken down by East of England local authority areas are listed below:

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Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News and PR.