241 LIVES LOST IS UNACCEPTABLE

Launching the latest work related fatal injury statistics today Health and Safety Commission (HSC) Chair Sir Bill Callaghan said the loss of 241 lives is unacceptable and issued a fresh challenge to industry to place safety at the top of its priorities and do more to protect the work force.

Sir Bill said, “It is disappointing to see that the overall number of deaths has risen. We have worked hard with industry and trade unions over the past few years to bring the number down. Behind every one of these numbers was a man or a woman, with a life, friends and family. Despite all the negative stories written and told about over-bureaucracy and banning ‘fun’, in reality trying to stop the tragedies we are talking about today is what health and safety is all about.”

The latest statistics presented today suggest that the provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2006/07 is 241, and corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.80 per 100 000 workers. In 2005/06, the finalised figures were 217 and 0.72 respectively; these were the lowest annual figures on record. This indicates an overall increase of 11 per cent since the last year. Although a long-term downward trend is still clear, the rate of decrease has slowed over the last 15 years and there has been very little change in the overall rate over the last five years.

Of the main industrial sectors, construction has the highest total of fatal injuries and accounts for 31% of all fatal injuries to workers. Other industries such as agriculture, waste and recycling and issues such as protection of vulnerable workers, particularly migrant workers also pose significant challenges.

HSE’s internal monitoring systems had signaled an increase in fatalities in construction and so the unvalidated statistics collected through the year has led to plans to address the areas of concern. To tackle the level of fatalities in the construction sector HSE today confirmed continuing focus on its inspection programme targeting the refurbishment and repair sectors as these sectors in particular have seen an increase in fatal injuries. HSE will also be working very closely with stakeholders to address the problem to rising fatalities.

HSE Chief Executive Geoffrey Podger added to this message saying, “Those who are putting the lives of their workforce at risk should know that HSE takes this very seriously. In the past year we have approved 25% more prosecutions than the year before and our inspectors have served 1000 more enforcement notices. No one should believe that they can get away with serious breaches of health and safety.”

At the end of a briefing event today Sir Bill reiterated his message, “I have to remind you that safety is ultimately the responsibility of those who manage and direct companies and those who work for them. Today’s statistics are disappointing and distressing but improvements can still be made. They must be made. HSC/E is taking action. The ball now lies firmly in the industry’s court.”

In many areas there have been some real improvements compared with statistics from last year, and despite the figures announced today, the long term fatal-injury trends are still downward. However, the real challenge for HSE and the industry now is to move on from the plateau of the last five years, and to renew our efforts and revive the major gains made in previous years.

The full statistics can be viewed at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm

Response from Health and Safety Commissioner Danny Carrigan

"Construction remains an undeniably dangerous industry and, all too often, it demonstrates the unacceptable human cost of getting things wrong. I am disappointed that the earlier improvements in construction health and safety have not been sustained and, instead, there has been a significant increase in worker fatalities in the housing and refurbishment / repair sectors, particularly in the domestic market. I am also concerned about the continued high level of construction worker fatalities on smaller sites and involving small businesses.

I know that HSE keeps a close eye on fatal accident trends and that its Construction Division is already focusing in on the key issues. I am particularly pleased to see that HSE is pressing hard for all workers to be fully engaged in health and safety decisions. I challenge all in the construction industry to refocus its efforts and work together with HSE to tackle the unacceptable level of fatalities in the construction industry."

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HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk/

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