HSE figures show fall in construction accidents

New statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show there has been a significant reduction in the number of people killed, injured or suffering work related illness from April 2008 to March 2009.The figures, published in the HSE’s Health and Safety Statistics 2008/091, show that major injuries at work have continued to fall over the past years following the trend started since 2000 and this trend continued last year with 28,692 workers reported as being injured in 2008/09 compared with 29,389 in 2007/08.

However despite this the construction industry still has the highest rates of fatal injuries accounting for 53 deaths over the past year.

David Hall, chairman for the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) comments: “The health and safety message is slowly having an effect with the rate of fatal injuries in construction showing a general downward trend over the past decade, decreasing by 34% in the past 3 years. But as the safety industry’s leading trade body, one of the core aims of the BSIF is to help improve safety and health in the work place and we would like to see significant improvements made to ensure adequate safety procedures are in place.

“The HSE statistics show that reported injuries in this sector were caused by falls from height, falling objects, contact with moving machinery, collapses/overturns and electricity. Companies need to ensure they are aware of all the main issues regarding risk assessment and be reminded that following the amendments to the Health & Safety Offences Act 2008, it is obligatory to comply with health and safety regulations.

“Assessing the risks posed within a work place, understanding current legislation and then facing the wide range of personal protective equipment (PPE) available and providing adequate training can be a daunting task for many employers. But practical support and advice is available from bodies such as the BSIF”.