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12 February 2005 - HSE National Statistics
on Falls From a Height
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have produced a
comprehensive report of National Statistics on injuries associated with falls
from height since 1996/97 to 2001/02.
The statistics were compiled using HSE and local authority
reported cases under the Reporting of Injuries, Disease and Dangerous
Occurrences Regulation 1995 (RIDDOR 95), the main three categories reportable
being fatal, major and over 3-day injury.
The statistics, taken from various sources, some of which are
surveys are subject to sampling errors where the estimates are based on samples
rather than whole population. However, account was taken of this and
95% "confidence intervals" were quoted, which takes the range of uncertainty
into account.
Some of the figures contained within the report are as follows:
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Total number of fatal injuries for 2002/03 was 226 compared with
251 for 2001/02. Of these, the number of workers fatally injured
resulting from falling from a height fell from 69 in 2001/02 to 49 in 2002/03.
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The construction industry accounted for 67% of all fatalities to
workers as a result of falling from a height in 2002/03.
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The number of major injuries to the self-employed from falling
from a height in 2002/03 was 376, compared with 356 in 2001/02, an increase of
6%.
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Ladders accounted for the greatest number of major injuries to
employees due to high falls 40% and low falls 30% in 2002/03.
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The construction industry accounted for 35% (1503) of all major
injuries to workers as a result of falling from a height in 2002/03.
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In 2002/03, the highest number of falls from height causing over
3-day injuries to employees were in the large service industry (2,825) followed
by manufacturing (1,108) and construction (804).
Non-fatal employee major and over 3-day injuries are estimated
at 41% for the economy as a whole, with self-employed being severely
under-reported being less than 5% of non-fatal injuries.
The full report can be accessed by clicking the following:
Comprehensive Injury Statistics - Falls From a Height
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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