Number of work-related injuries falls

The number of work-related injuries has decreased this year, recent data suggests. Roughly 22,400 major injuries were recorded from March 2011 to March 2012, which shows a reduction of 500 from the year before, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Also, more than 88,000 injuries prevented employees from going to work for a minimum of four days, some 3,000 fewer than the previous 12 months. There were also two fewer fatalities compared to the year before, leaving this year’s figure at 173.

HSE chairperson, Judith Hackitt, said:

“Any reduction in the number of people being injured or made unwell by their jobs should be welcomed. Given the challenging economic conditions which many sectors have faced in recent years it is particularly encouraging to see continued reductions in levels of injury and ill health.

“Britain has earned the reputation of being one of the safest places in Europe to work, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.

“We need to ensure that we all focus on managing the real risks which lead to serious workplace harm.”

Malcolm Underhill, Personal Injury Solicitor at IBB, comments:

“The official statistics from the HSE, suggest there may have been an increase in the number of fatal workplace accidents for the last reporting period. However, allowing for those figures from 2010/11 being provisional, the current figures do support Judith Hackitt’s remarks. Nevertheless, the overall numbers for the last two years represent a worry to all those concerned with health and safety at work, which must include businesses, workers and trade unions.

The last two years show a higher incidence of fatal accidents at work, compared with 2009/10, where there were 147 deaths. The concern is that the last two years statistics are not a blip, but the beginning of a trend, that will continue for some years. The reason for this is that the Government is seeking to abolish a number of health and safety regulations. Further, by making amendments to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform bill the Government will remove the 114-year-old right to rely on breaches of health and safety regulations in civil claims. This cannot be good for workers or business.

Surely a culture of safety, which protects the workforce to maximise their contribution to the business, is required. The dismantling of rules that have existed for over a century do not make sense at a time when work related deaths is on the rise, there are well over 100,000 non fatal workplace injuries and the number of deaths from asbestos-related disease is still increasing.”

IBB Solicitors has built a reputation for quality of service in pursuing compensation in cases involving accidents at work. If you would like advice on personal injury issues, you can contact a member of IBB’s Personal Injury team, call us on 08456 381 381 or email PI@ibblaw.co.uk.