England

Statistics of occupational ill health, safety and enforcement

Injuries

In 2008/09, there were 147 fatal injuries to workers in England, 23 095 reported major injuries to employees and 88 961 over 3 day injuries to employees. (See Table REGINJ).

In England in 2008/09, the rate per 100 000 employees was 101.8 for fatal and major injuries and 390.4 for over 3 day injuries. This is very similar compared with Great Britain averages of 125.7 and 471.9 respectively (see Table REGRATE).

Between 2004/05 and 2008/09, Falls from a height accounted for 23% of fatal injuries to workers.  38% of major injuries to employees were caused by Slips, trips or falls on same level.  The most common kind of over 3 day injury was Injured while handling, lifting or carrying (41%).

Over the period 2004/05 to 2008/09 major injuries to employees fell by 9%, compared to a fall of 9% for Great Britain as a whole. Over 3 day injuries to employees fell by 14%, compared with 14% in Great Britain.

In 2008/09, the Service industries accounted for 69% of fatal and major injuries in England. In 2007/08 the Construction industry had the highest rate of fatal and major injuries to employees (241.5).

The Service industries accounted for 75% of over 3 day injuries to employees in 2008/09. The highest rate of over 3 day injuries to employees in England in 2008/09 was in the Extractive & Utility Supply industry (693.8).

Figure 1: Fatal injuries to workers in England 2003/04 - 2008/09p

Figure 2: Major injuries (and fatal and major rates combined) to employees in England 2003/04 - 2008/09p

Figure 3: Number and rate of over-3-day injuries to employees in England 2003/04 - 2008/09p

• Detailed data for the above three charts by kind of accident

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 England was 970 per 100 000 workers (0.97%) in 2007/08 (three-year average), similar (not statistically significantly different) to the Great Britain average of 970 per 100 000 workers (0.97%) (See Table INJGOR1_3YR).