8 November 2005 - HSC - HSE Health and Safety Statistics for 2004-05

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The Health and Safety Commission have today published their latest statistics, which includes progress reports on the targets set in the "Revitalising Health and Safety" strategy.

The latest key figures show the following results:

Fatal Injuries category

• 220 workers were killed, a rate of 0.7 per 100,000 workers.

• 361 members of the public were fatally injured.

Non-fatal injuries category

• 150,559 other injuries to employees were reported, a rate of 587 per 100,000 employees.

• 363,000 reportable injuries occurred, according to the Labour Force Survey, a rate of 1,330 per 100,000 workers (2003/04).

Ill health category

• 2.0 million people were suffering from an illness which they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work.

• 576,000 of these were new cases in the last 12 months.

Working days lost

• 35 million working days were lost overall (1.5 days per worker), 28 million due to work-related ill health and 7 million due to workplace injury.

Progress to 2004/05 of the Revitalising Health and Safety targets.

• Injuries: There was no change in the incidence rate of fatal and major injury.
  5% target was not met.

• Ill health: There was a reduction in incidence rate of work-related ill health.
  10% target probably met.

• Days lost: There was a reduction in working days lost per worker.
  15% target possibly met.

Bill Callaghan, Commenting on action needed, said:

"A combination of factors is needed. Strong inspection and enforcement are vital, and we have to redouble our efforts to support local authority colleagues and work in even greater partnership. Initiatives such as moving goods safely are vital.

"Our role is far wider than that of an enforcer. As an enabler we have supported partnership working in construction, food, paper and board and quarrying. Obviously the commitment of the social partners is crucial whether at sector level, company level or the shop floor. Partnership working between employers and employees does produce results."

The above figures are only the key figures.   However, the full report can be accessed, in pdf format, by clicking the following:

Health and Safety Statistics 2004/05

More detail and in-depth figures in the "Overall Picture for Great Britain" statistics can be accessed from the HSE Webpage by clicking the following:

HSE - STATISTICS: Overall Picture for Great Britain

Article by Alexandra Johnston

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