Injuries and Sickness Cost £14.2 Billion

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• Injuries and Sickness Cost £14.2 Billion

The Health and Safety Executive has recently published statistics on workplace injury and illness for the year 2013/14.

The figures released show that too many workers are still being injured or made ill by work. Judith Hackett, the chair of the HSE, said “These latest figures remind us what health and safety is really about. We should remind ourselves what these numbers actually mean – the number of times in the last year someone went out to work and either did not return home to their loved ones or came home with life changing injuries. We all need to commit to focussing on what really matters – ensuring more people return home from work and enjoy long and healthy working lives.”

According to the latest annual statistics, an estimated 28.2 million working days were lost due to work related ill health or injury in 2013/14. The cost to society from such injuries and new cases of ill health is an estimated £14.2 billion in 2012/13 (based on 2012 prices) with workplace injuries (including fatalities) accounting for around £5.6 billion and new cases of workplace illnesses around £8.6 billion.

 

The statistics show that in 2013/14, there were:

• 133 fatal injuries, equating to a rate of 0.44 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers. Of the main industrial sectors, construction, agriculture, and waste and recycling have the highest rates with 42, 27 and 4 fatal injuries to workers, respectively
• 77,593 other injuries reported under RIDDOR, equating to a rate of 304.6 injuries per 100,000 employees
• Two million people suffered during the year from an illness they believe was caused or exacerbated by current or previous employment. This number includes 500,000 people who developed new conditions during the year

 

Enforcement

The statistics show 674 cases were prosecuted for health and safety breaches in 2013/14.

These cases led to 636 convictions for at least 1 offence, a conviction rate of 94%.

Total fines received were £18 million.

There were 13,790 notices issued by the HSE and local authorities in 2013/14, an increase of 2% from the previous year.

 

 

Rod Hunt, Partner, Clyde & Co

Chancery Place, 50 Brown Street, Manchester M2 2JT

T: +44 (0)161 829 6400  F: +44 (0)161 829 6401

Further advice should be taken before relying on the contents of this summary.

Article written by Rod Hunt

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