HSE Publishes Statistics for 2015/16: A Reminder of What Health and Safety is Really About.
Recent figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that although Britain remains one of the safest places to work in Europe, an estimated 30.4 million working days were lost due to work related ill health or injury in 2015/16. The latest figures indicate that injuries and new cases of illness resulting from working conditions cost an estimated £14.1 billion in 2014/15.
As in previous years, the industries suffering the highest injury rates include Construction and Agriculture, however, the Human Health and Social Work activities sector has seen a significant increase in the number of work related injuries.
Fatal diseases continue to be an area of major concern, with around 13,000 deaths per year from occupational lung disease and cancer caused by past exposure to chemicals and dust at work. Deaths due to mesothelioma (a cancer of the lung lining), caused by past exposure to asbestosAsbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK1. Asbestos was extensively used in construction materials up until the late 1990s, and is present in a significant number of bu... More, is predicted to peak at around 2,500 before the end of the decade, when it is estimated the numbers will begin to decrease.
Whilst there has been a long term downward trend in fatal injuries, provisional figures provided for 2015/16 show an increase in fatalities with 144 workers killed at work compared to 133 from the previous year.
Meanwhile, figures for the number of non-fatal injuries to employees for 2015/16 show a decrease from 77,270 in 2014/15 to 72,702, continuing the downward trend. The most common causes were handling, lifting or carrying (20%), slips and trips (19%) and being struck by moving objects (10%).
For more information on these published figures, click here.
For guidance or further information about managing health and safety and reducing risk, contact the S2 Partnership’s specialist consultants.