Health & Safety Expert Calls For More Action To Cut Work Accidents
08/04/2009
A health and safety expert in Newcastle is claiming that much more can be done to reduce the number of industrial accidents after figures revealed only a marginal fall in the number of accidents in the workplace.
Statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the number of reported major injuries in the workplace fell by just 1.1% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2008/09, although some employment sectors saw a notable increase in workplace accidents.
Injuries in public services rose by 9.5% over the same period whilst the food, drink and tobacco manufacturing, rest of manufacturing, and construction sectors collectively saw reductions of between 8-10%.
Roger Maddocks, Partner and work accident expert at law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: “Although it is encouraging that the figures are decreasing it is concerning that the rate of reduction is slowing down. There is still a lot of work to be done to get businesses to follow even the basic health and safety guidelines.
“People should expect to go to work, do a day’s work, and return home safely after their duties. Sadly, such a reasonable expectation is often not realised.
“All too often workers come to us after they have suffered serious injury following a work accident which could easily have been avoided. Such industrial accidents cause pain, suffering and misery for the person injured and their family. As noted by the HSE, such accidents at work cost industry an enormous amount of money. So the message is clear: good health and safety for workers is also good business.”
However, the statistics for quarter two to quarter three show a rise in the number of major injuries resulting from work accidents in certain sectors. The rate of major injuries in food, drink and tobacco rose by 18.2 per cent and 7.7 per cent in retail, wholesale & hospitality. The number fell by 10.7 percent in construction.
Mr Maddocks added: “There has been a major downward trend since 2005 but it is worrying that certain sectors are seeing a rise in the number of injuries at work in quarter three. The evidence suggests that the rate of accidents is starting to fall much slower than in previous years, and in some sectors it is starting to rise, so there is clearly more work to be done.”
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