New year, renewed call to reduce workplace death and injury in Hertfordshire

Date:

31 December 2010

Release No:

HSE-E-54

Employers in Hertfordshire are being urged to start the New Year with a stronger commitment to health and safety.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) warning comes after the number of work-related fatalities in Hertfordshire rose, out of step with the total number of work-related deaths across Britain being at a record low.

According to figures released for 2009/10, six people in Hertfordshire were fatally injured at work, an increase of three; while 622 people received serious workplace injuries, an increase of 22 from the previous year.

There were 2,409 serious workplace injuries and ten deaths recorded in the East of England in 2009/10 compared to 2,473 and 12 deaths during the previous twelve months.

(A breakdown of figures per local authority area is detailed below)

Heather Bryant, Regional Director for HSE in the East of England, said:

"Employers have a legal duty to protect their workers and I would encourage them to make it their New Year's resolution to take sensible precautions to prevent injuries in the workplace. The national fall in numbers of workers killed or injured through their work is encouraging but we must also remember that each death results in a family missing a loved one this festive season. The increase in 2009/10 in Hertfordshire is extremely disappointing following several years of improvement.

"Employers cannot be complacent; they must stay vigilant and learn the lessons from the past to ensure they protect their workers in the future. Putting in place simple, straightforward health and safety measures can save lives. It is not good for companies or their workers if they are off through an injury or ill-health."

Employers in Hertfordshire are being urged to start the New Year as they mean to go on when it comes to health and safety.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning that there is no room for complacency despite the total number of work-related fatalities across Britain being at a record low.

According to figures released for 2009/10, one person in Hertfordshire was fatally injured at work; and 384 received serious workplace injuries, down 78 from the previous year.

There were 2,409 serious workplace injuries and ten deaths recorded in the East of England in 2009/10 compared to 2,473 and 12 deaths during the previous twelve months.

(A breakdown of figures per local authority area is detailed below)

Heather Bryant, Regional Director for HSE in the East of England, said:

"The fall in numbers of workers killed or injured through their work is encouraging but we must also remember that each death results in a family missing a loved one this festive season. Employers have a legal duty to protect their workers and I would encourage them to make it their New Year's resolution to take sensible precautions to prevent injuries in the workplace.

"Employers cannot be complacent; they must stay vigilant and learn the lessons from the past to ensure they protect their workers in the future. Putting in place simple, straightforward health and safety measures can save lives. It is not good for companies or their workers if they are off through an injury or ill-health."

County / local authority		2009/10p				2008/09
		Fatal injuries	Major injuries	Over-3-day injuries	Total	Fatal injuries	Major injuries	Over-3-day injuries	Total
Hertfordshire	Broxbourne Borough of	1	30	119	150	-	46	130	176
	Dacorum Borough Council	-	42	168	210	-	66	210	276
	East Hertfordshire District Council	-	57	129	186	-	43	152	195
	Hertsmere Borough Council	-	28	126	154	-	45	137	182
	North Hertfordshire District Council	-	45	149	194	-	45	154	199
	St Albans District Council Offices	-	41	171	212	-	38	172	210
	Stevenage Borough Council	-	40	163	203	-	51	177	228
	Three Rivers District Council	-	16	60	76	-	29	60	89
	Watford Council	-	32	153	185	-	37	160	197
	Welwyn Hatfield District Council	-	53	226	279	1	62	258	321
	Total	1	384	1,464	1,849	1	462	1,610	2,073

Notes to editors

1. HSE publishes a full range of workplace health and safety statistics. These can be viewed at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm
2. The reporting of health and safety incidents at work is a statutory requirement, set out under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). A reportable incident includes: a death or major injury; any accident which does not result in major injury, but the injured person still has to take three or more consecutive days off their normal work to recover; a work-related disease; a member of the public being injured as a result of work-related activity and taken to hospital for treatment; or a dangerous occurrence (which does not result in a serious injury, but could have done).
3. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk

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