East Midlands 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:

EM/126/09

Employers across the East Midlands 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 209 serious work related incidents occurred across the East Midlands each week, an annual total of 10,872 people being killed or seriously injured.

HSE hopes this figure will act as 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 11 people were killed at work across the region while 2,216 sustained major injuries and a further 8,645 suffered injuries requiring more than three days absence. The figures compare with 18 fatalities, 2319 major injuries and 9,273 cases of injuries requiring more than three days absence in 2007/8.

Including other absences due to ill health caused by work activities, this equates to an estimated 2.2 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 111 firms for breaching health and safety laws.

Samantha Peace, HSE's East Midlands Head of Operation, said:

"Behind these statistics are the real life stories of thousands of workers suffering injuries and ill health. Together with their families, they have to deal 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 to take positive action to improve conditions in workplaces.

"The main causes of fatal accidents nationally remain falls from height and from workplace transport, with the highest numbers being found in the construction and agriculture sectors. For other industries, slips, trips and incidents affecting the back and upper limbs are the most common cause.

"Most of these injuries are entirely preventable. We implore businesses to take practical action to manage the risks people face in their day-to-day work."

Britain boasts 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.

Samantha Peace 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 region 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 Midlands 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. Details of fatalities are available at the following link - http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/fatalities/2008-9.htm
4. The statistics broken down by local authority area are listed below, including fatals/injuries to those self employed.

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Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News and PR.