Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Statistics
The latest survey of self-reported work-related illness (SWI) carried out in 2006/07 estimated that, in the East Midlands, 183 000 people suffered from an illness which they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work (See Table WRIGOR1E). The associated prevalence rate of 5700 per 100 000 people (5.7%) ever employed was statistically significantly higher than those for England (5000 per 100 000 people - 5.0%) and Great Britain (5100 per 100 000 people - 5.1%).
Comparing this rate with the corresponding rates from earlier SWI surveys indicates that the estimated prevalence rate in 2006/07 was of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to the rates in 2005/06 (5400 per 100 000 people - 5.4%), 2004/05 (5100 per 100 000 people - 5.1%), 2003/04 (5300 per 100 000 people - 5.3%) and 2001/02 (5200 per 100 000 people - 5.2%).
More detailed prevalence data by type of illness are not yet available from SWI06/07. However, earlier SWI surveys indicate that the prevalence rates for musculoskeletal disorders (See Table MSDGOR1E) and for stress, depression or anxiety (See Table STRGOR1E) in 2005/06 were of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to the corresponding rates in 2004/05, 2003/04 and 2001/02.
In 2006/07, the East Midlands had an estimated incidence rate of work-related illness of 2100 per 100 000 people (2.1%) who worked in the last 12 months (See Table WRIGOR2W12). This rate was of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to those in 2005/06 (2000 per 100 000 people – 2.0%), 2004/05 (1900 per 100 000 people – 1.9%), 2003/04 (2000 per 100 000 people – 2.0%) and 2001/02 (1800 per 100 000 people – 1.8%).
Regional data is also available for the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma (see Table MESO05). Regional differences reflect the historic distribution of asbestos using industries, especially shipbuilding, railway engineering and the production of asbestos insulation products. Mesothelioma death rates for the East Midlands are below the national average.
In 2006/07, there were 14 fatal injuries to workers in the East Midlands, 2 280 reported major injuries to employees and 9 578 over 3 day injuries to employees. There were 7 Fatal and 1 166 non-fatal injuries to members of the public (see table REGINJ [Excel 3.6mb] 
).
In the East Midlands in 2006/07, the rate per 100 000 employees was 123.1 for fatal and major injuries and 515.0 for over 3 day injuries, compared with Great Britain averages of 107.0 and 422.6 respectively. However, differences between regional injuries rates are strongly influenced by the composition of employment in regions, for example, the mix of industries and occupations (see table REGRATE [Excel 518KB] ).
Over the period 2001/02 to 2006/07, major injuries to employees increased by 5%, compared to an increase of 2% for Great Britain as a whole. Over 3 day injuries to employees fell by 12%, compared to a fall of 13% in Great Britain. Non-fatal injuries to members of the public increased by 27%, compared to an increase of 22% in Great Britain.
The Services Industries accounted for approximately 49% to 62% of fatal and major injuries combined to employees over the six-year period in the East Midlands. The Construction industry had the highest rate of fatal and major injuries to employees in 2006/07 (271.4).
The Services Industries accounted for approximately 53% to 67% of over 3 day injuries to employees in each year over the six-year period. In 2006/07 the highest rate of over 3 day injuries to employees was in the Extraction and Utility Supply industry (918.9).
Reported injuries data are also available for counties and local authorities within the East Midlands. These include estimated rates per 100 000 employees (see Technical note).
The injury figures above are based on reports under RIDDOR. HSE also places questions in the Labour Force Survey (LFS), asking people if they have suffered a workplace injury in the last year. Based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the rate of reportable non-fatal injury in the East Midlands was 1200 per 100 000 workers (1.2%) in 2005/06 (three-year average), similar (not statistically significantly different) to the average of 1100 per 100 00 workers (1.1%) for England (See table lfsgor.htm).
Data from the 2006/07 LFS and SWI surveys indicate that the combined estimate of the number of working days lost (full-day equivalent) due to workplace injury and work-related ill health in the East Midlands was 2.1 million. This equates to an average annual loss of an estimated 1.2 days per worker, statistically significantly lower than the rate of 1.9 days in 2005/06 but similar (not statistically significantly different) to the rates of 1.8 days in 2004/05 and 1.5 days in 2003/04.
Workplace injuries and work-related illness accounted for an estimated 0.3 million and 1.8 million working days lost (full-day equivalent) respectively in 2006/07, with corresponding rates of 0.16 and 1.1 days per worker.
The injury rate was statistically significantly lower than those of 0.36 days in 2005/06 and 0.37 days in 2003/04, but was of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to the corresponding rate of 0.34 days in 2004/05.
However, the ill health rate was of a similar order (not statistically significantly different) to those in 2005/06 and 2004/05 (both 1.5 days) and 1.1 days in 2003/04 (See Table WDLGOR).
NB Enforcement statistics are presented separately for HSE and Local authorities. For HSE, historic data are presented for Field Operations Directorate only, i.e. excluding Railways Inspectorate (RI), Hazardous Installations Directorate (HID) and Nuclear Safety Directorate (NSD). In addition, data for 2005/06 onwards are presented for all HSE Directorates excluding RI.
In 2006/07, there were 98 offences prosecuted by all HSE directorates (excluding Railways) in the East Midlands, 70 of which lead to a conviction. The average fine per conviction was £9,373 a fall on the previous year (£9,686). In 2005/06, there were 23 offences prosecuted by Local Authorities in the East Midlands, all of which led to a conviction. The average fine per conviction was £10,072, an increase on the previous year (£4,303).
