Every year, The Heath and Safety Executive releases its annual report, containing a summary of the year’s statistics. The source of all the information you’re about to read is the HSE’s website (www.hse.gov.uk)
Key figures for Great Britain (2017/18)
- 1.4 million working people suffering from a work-related illness
- 2,595 mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures (2016)
- 144 workers killed at work
- 555,000 injuries occurred at work according to the Labour Force Survey
- 71,062 injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR
- 30.7 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
- £15 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2016/17)
2018 HSE Statistics – Some key themes and trends
A) Fatal injuries at work have increased. In 2017/18, 144 workers were killed at work. The average annual number of workers killed at work over the past five years (2013/14-2017/18) is 141. Though only a small increase, with the current health and safety culture we’d have expected a drop in this figure. What can we do to help?
A number of methods could be employed to reduce this figure.
- Treat the issue of bad H&S. Obviously the main point here. Educate staff using training. Whether it’s generic H&S training or specific training for tasks that carry risk, companies have a responsibility to ensure staff are suitably prepared and trained to carry out their work.
- Be prepared to treat an injury. Nobody wants to think about the worst, but it’s important to be ready to act if somebody does suffer a serious and potentially life-threatening injury. Training and equipment are needed to carry out emergency life support, which could potentially keep somebody alive until help arrives.
Related ProTrainings courses:
Health and safety: www.prohealthsafety.co.uk
First aid at work: www.profaw.co.uk
Manual Handling: www.promanualhandling.co.uk
Fire Safety: www.profiresafety.co.uk
First aid equipment: www.first-aid-online.co.uk
B) Increase in absence due to mental health. The rate of self-reported work-related stress, anxiety or depression show signs of increasing in recent years having previously remained broadly flat. Why is this?
We think it’s fair to say that with a recent focus on this topic in society and therefore, the workplace, it’s becoming less of a taboo subject to talk about mental health. It’s quite possible that simply more people are reporting this instead of suffering in silence or making up an excuse to cover the real issue of their absence. Similarly, more people may be able to recognise the symptoms of related mental health conditions now and are more aware of their mental state.
Lots of employers are beginning to provide training that helps managers spot mental health issues within their team, and making more support available for those suffering from conditions like stress and anxiety. How can we help?
Related ProTrainings course – Mental health awareness, available here: Mental Health Courses
C) Over 71,000 RIDDOR-reportable non-fatal injuries. All of which will presumably have involved a first aider on site. This highlights the scale of the task workplace first aiders have to deal with. So it’s important that alongside receiving the necessary qualifications such as ‘First Aid at Work’, the HSE’s guidance is followed and yearly refreshers take place to keep knowledge and practical skills up to date.
First aiders and first aid kit should be readily available. We believe this should include defibrillators and associated training to use the equipment.
Related ProTrainings courses:
First aid at work: www.profaw.co.uk
Defibrillator and CPR: www.proaed.co.uk
Buy a defibrillator: Click here for AED units from £745 plus VAT
D) Asbestos-related deaths have levelled out and are due to decline. Annual mesothelioma deaths increased substantially over the last few decades due to past asbestos exposures, but have remained broadly level over the last 5 years; projections suggest a reduction beyond the year 2020. Why is this?
Now, the rules and regulations around asbestos have bought control to the use and handling of this material, dangerous when handled or not disposed of correctly. Training for anybody involved in the removal and disposal of asbestos is required, and instilling this knowledge in those who handle it is helping to reduce exposure and risk of illness. How can we help?
Related ProTrainings course – Asbestos awareness, available here: www.proasbestosawareness.co.uk
We’ll leave you with this. Workplace injuries cost companies £5.2 billion.
Training is not a cost, it’s an investment in your business, your employees’ safety and in reducing future costs due to workplace injuries.
Please get in touch and help us help you, to reduce these statistics.
We thank the HSE for making the full report available, and you can read it here:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh1718.pdf
For more information on how ProTrainings can help you meet your HSE requirements call 01206 805359, email sales@protrainings.uk or visit https://www.protrainings.ukwww.protrainings.uk