New HSE statistics - Fatalities falling but enforcement notices are on the up

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) have published their annual update on the number of injuries and fatalities sustained at work. The headlines are:

• 1.3 million people who worked during the last year were suffering from an illness (long standing as well as new cases) they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work. 555,000 of these were new cases.
  • 152 workers were killed at work, a rate of 0.5 per 100,000 workers.
  • 121,430 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR, a rate of 473 per 100,000 employees.
  • 233,000 reportable injuries occurred, according to the Labour Force Survey, a rate of 840 per 100,000 workers.
  • 28.5 million days were lost overall (1.2 days per worker), 23.4 million due to work-related ill health and 5.1 million due to workplace injury.
  

In 2009/10, there were 9,734 enforcement notices issued by HSE, compared to 8,079 in 2008/09.

The HSE took 512 cases to court,  a duty holder may be prosecuted for more than one breach within the same case. The 512 cases led to 922 offences with a conviction secured in 474 cases (93%). The statistics do not show the number of individuals personally prosecuted.