National Statistics - Health and safety statistics 2007/08

The latest national statistics on work-related illness and workplace injuries, produced by the Health and Safety Executive, were released on 29 October 2008 according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

This release presents statistics on work-related illness and workplace injuries in Great Britain, for the period 2007/08.

The key facts for 2007/08 are:

Ill health

• 2.1 million people were suffering from an illness (long standing as well as new cases) they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work.
• 1.3 million of these cases were suffered by people working during the year, of which 563 000 were new cases.
• 2 056 people died of mesothelioma (2006), and thousands more from other occupational cancers and lung diseases.

Injuries

• 229 workers were killed at work, a rate of 0.8 per 100 000 workers.
• 136 771 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR, a rate of 517.9 per 100 000 employees.
• 299 000 reportable injuries occurred, according to the Labour Force Survey (LFS), a rate of 1000 per 100 000 workers

Working days lost

• 34 million days were lost overall (1.4 days per worker), 28 million due to work-related ill health and 6 million due to workplace injury.

Health and safety targets: progress to 2007/08

• Ill health: probably not on track to meet Revitalising target.
• Fatal and major injuries: on track to meet Revitalising target.
• Days lost per worker: probably not on track to meet Revitalising target.

Enforcement

• 1 028 offences were prosecuted by HSE.
• 354 offences were prosecuted by local authorities.

Coverage: Great Britain

Geographical breakdown: Great Britain, England, Wales, Scotland Government Office Regions and Local Authorities

As last year, the release includes a pocket-sized booklet providing headline figures and commentary supported by a range of material on the Statistics website.

If you would like to obtain a hard copy of the pocket sized booklet, please e-mail statisticsrequestteam@hse.gsi.gov.uk or Telephone 0151 951 3392/4697; Fax 0151 951 4703.

NB There is a limited print run of the booklet and requests are strictly on a first come first served basis.