The true cost to Dundee businesses of slips, trips and falls in the workplace

Date:

5 March 2010

Release No:

SCO/122/10

Dundee businesses lost at least 261 working days in 2008/09 as a result of slips, trips and falls in the workplace.

According to figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were five fatalities and 1,405 major as a result of slips, trips and falls in Scottish workplaces in 2008/09, with a further 2,742 workers having to take more than three days off work.

The cost to British society of all workplace slips, trips and fall incidents is around £800 million a year.

This has prompted HSE to re-launch its 'Shattered Lives' campaign, aimed at reducing the incidence of slips, trips and falls from height by showing employers and employees how easily these kind of accidents can happen and the simple, often cost effective, measures that can help reduce them

Dr Paul Stollard, HSE Director Scotland, said:

"These figures highlight the very real and serious nature of preventable slip, trip and fall incidents in the workplace. Slips, trips and falls might sound funny but they shatter the lives of thousands of British workers ever year.

"Making improvements need not cost the earth and we are encouraging people to visit our Shattered Lives website, where they will be able to get simple and cost-effective solutions to help manage these common hazards in their workplace."

The new website shows how slips, trips and falls in the workplace can be reduced. It shows how companies such as Sainsbury's have taken steps to improve safety. It also provides varied online learning packages and toolkits, ranging from how to deal with spills and other slip risks, to the importance of using ladders correctly to reduce the risk of falling from height.

LG Regulation (formerly LACORS) Chairman, Councillor Paul Bettison, said:

"It is families who have to pick up the pieces after accidents or deaths at work. While the cost to society is high, how do we measure the anguish of the children left behind from a mother or father lost from falling off a ladder?

"Councils are working to make sure that all high risk businesses have sensible precautions in place to protect employees and customers from preventable injuries and death. But we all have a moral responsibility to use common sense to reduce the number lives being shattered needlessly."

For more information visit www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives

Notes to editors

1. For further information about slips, trips and falls and the Shattered Lives campaign visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/danger-display-card.htm
2. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It works to prevent death, injury and ill-health to those at work and those affected by work activities. For more information about the work of HSE, visit www.hse.gov.uk
3. Reportable major injuries include fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs and toes; amputations; dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee or spine; loss of sight (temporary or permanent); chemical or hot metal burn to the eye or any penetrating injury to the eye; injury resulting from an electric shock or electrical burn leading to unconsciousness, or requiring resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours; any other injury: leading to hypothermia, heat-induced illness or unconsciousness; or requiring resuscitation; or requiring admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours; and unconsciousness caused by asphyxia or exposure to harmful substance or biological agent.
4. LG Regulation (formerly LACORS) (the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services), as part of the LGA Group, supports the HSE's Shattered Lives campaign because we represent local council health and safety officers who regulate health and safety. Local councils will be promoting Shattered Lives with businesses in their area to reduce slip and trip accidents.
5. Figures by local authority:

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Issued by COI News and PR Scotland