5 November: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published the annual statistics concerning workplace injury and ill-health in Great Britain in 2011/12. The statistics reveal that both the number and incidence of major and three-day injuries continue to fall as well as the number of work-related ill health cases.
Alex Botha, chief executive of the British Safety Council, commented: “We note encouraging signs of sustained improvement in preventing injury and ill-health in Great Britain’s workplaces. As HSE chair Judith Hackitt noted, the reduction in the number of people injured and made ill by work, against a backdrop of tough economic conditions, is to be welcomed.
“These statistics should act as a constant reminder to all of us of the sad reality of thousands of employees being injured and made ill and those still dying needlessly as a result of preventable workplace injuries and work-related diseases. We must continue to sustain the improvements made over the last ten years in preventing workplace injury and ill-health occurrences,” remarked Botha.
“The figures released today reveal the human cost of workplace injury and ill-health,” he continued. “The cost to society is also immense – and estimated £13.4 billion in 2011/12 – over half of which directly impacts individuals. The British Safety Council notes with concern the significant reduction in the number of enforcement notices served by both HSE and Local authorities in 2011/12 – a 21% reduction on the previous year. It is our view that enforcement continues to play an important part in helping to ensure that our health and safety laws are complied with and the good standards of health and safety management are maintained,” he concluded.
About the British Safety Council
The British Safety Council is one of the world’s leading advocates of workplace health and safety. Our vision is that no one should be killed, injured or made ill by their work. We have set out the five steps and the supporting actions we believe are essential to ensure healthy and safe work activities in our manifesto, Working Well – Five Steps for Healthier and Safer Work Activities - see www.britsafe.org/manifesto
