London 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:

LDN/2912/09

Employers across London 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 around 280 work-related incidents occurred across London each week, an annual figure of 14,576 people being killed or injured.

HSE hopes 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 20 people were killed at work across the region while 2,848 sustained major injuries and 11,708 more suffered injuries requiring more than three days absence. The figures compare with 26 fatalities, 2,948 major injuries and 12,568 cases requiring more than three days absence in 2007/08.

Including other absences due to ill health caused by work activities, this equates to 1.7 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 59 firms for breaching health and safety legislation and regulations.

Stephen Williams HSE's London 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 to stop the same patterns being repeated.

"Slips, trips and falls from height are consistently the chief causes of death and serious injury.

"Many 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.

Stephen Williams 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 London a safer place to work.

"Every employee has the right to return home from work safely each day and I hope employers in London 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 London and boroughs are listed below:

London Borough	Fatal injuries	Major non-fatal injuries	Over 3 days injuries
Barking & Dagenham	0	73	263
Barnet	0	87	314
Bexley	2	50	266
Brent	0	78	354
Bromley	1	72	280
Camden	1	142	507
Croydon	0	76	352
Ealing	2	83	464
Enfield	0	98	381
Greenwich	0	82	317
Hackney	0	59	199
Hammersmith & Fulham	0	76	267
Haringey	1	66	235
Harrow	0	36	166
Havering	1	58	252
Hillingdon	0	159	1,177
Hounslow	0	110	603
Islington	0	102	357
Kensington & Chelsea	0	90	284
Kingston-Upon-Thames	0	46	132
Lambeth	0	86	390
Lewisham	0	49	233
City of London	1	116	358
Merton	1	59	191
Newham	2	88	366
Redbridge	0	41	222
Richmond-Upon-Thames	0	39	140
Southwark	3	102	452
Sutton	0	56	183
Tower Hamlets	1	117	375
Waltham Forest	0	69	195
Wandsworth	1	80	391
Westminster	3	303	1,042
Total	20	2,848	11,708

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Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News and PR.