2008 Health and Safety Statistics
November 3rd 2008 The publication of the HSE's Annual Statistics shows a small decrease in the number of deaths at work and amplifies the generally held opinion that the construction industry is still a major contributor to workplace deaths and injuries.
The BSIF has long held the view that the annual analysis of RIDDOR reports is a valuable indication of the state of health and safety at work. Unfortunately, because the health service does not actively differentiate between general health presentations and those caused through their patients' work, there is little information available to identify the true situation. In seeking to understand the impact of the "It's in your hands" campaign, there was difficulty in rationalising the 16,000 reported cases of work generated dermatitis and the 2 million presentation to GPs.
The BSIF would like to see every GP simply asking the question as to whether the patient's condition may have been caused at work and for that information to be recorded on the national data-base. The availability of the headline statistics generated would greatly improve the targeting of educational campaigns designed to reduce employment generated sickness and injury.
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