Workplace deaths fall to record low
October 28th 2009 Britain became a healthier and safer place to work last year, according to figures released today by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Statistics show a significant reduction in the numbers of people killed, injured or suffering work related ill-health from April 2008 to March 2009. Across England, Scotland and Wales, 29.3 million working days (equivalent to 1.24 days per worker) were lost to injury and ill health last year – compared with 33.9 million in 2007/08.
Workplace fatal injuries fell from 233 in 2007/08 to a record low of 180 in 2008/09, and there was a reduction of more than 7,000 in the number of workplace injuries classified as serious or incurring more than three days absence from work.
Comparison with international data shows Britain to be one of the safest places to work in the EU.
Major injuries at work have fallen since 2000 and this trend continued last year with 28,692 workers reported as being injured in 2008/09 (94.8 per 100,000) compared with 29,389 in 2007/08 (96.5 per 100,000).
A statistically significant fall was recorded in the estimated number of self-reported injuries – down from 299,000 in 2007/08 to 246,000 last year.
This improvement saw business lose 1.6 million fewer working days through all types of injury, a total of 4.7 million.
The number of people estimated to be suffering from work-related ill health fell by 79,000 in 2008/09 to 1.2 million.
And as a result three million fewer working days were lost to ill health in 2008/09 – a total of 24.6 million.
Commenting on the possibility that the recession has been responsible for these improvements, Judith Hackitt, Chair of HSE said: “The improvements shown in these statistics point to other factors than simply a reduction in activity levels in a recession. While the recession will undoubtedly have an impact, the effect is not direct and easy to explain.
“History suggests that when we start moving back into economic growth the rate of work-related injuries will tend to increase. Preventing history from repeating itself is a challenge facing everyone with a stake in health and safety in the workplace – regulators, employers and employees alike: we all need to be part of the solution,” added Judith.
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