Serious work injuries falling but not fast enough says law firm
MUCH more can be done to reduce the number of accidents in the workplace, according to law firm Irwin Mitchell.
The warning comes after figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shows that over the 2008/09 year to date major injuries are only down 1.1% on the previous period.
David Urpeth, partner and head of work accidents at Irwin Mitchell’s Sheffield office said that although it was encouraging to see figures decreasing the rate of reduction was a concern.
He warned that there is still a lot of work to be done to get businesses to follow even the basic health and safety guidelines.
“People should expect to go to work, do a days work, and return home safely after their duties. Sadly, such a reasonable expectation is often not realised,” he said.
“All too often workers come to us after they have suffered serious injury following a work accident which could easily have been avoided. Such industrial accidents cause pain, suffering and misery for the person injured and their family.”
He continued: “As noted by the HSE, such accidents at work cost industry an enormous amount of money. So the message is clear – good health and safety for workers is also good business.”
The HSE figures highlight that certain sectors are performing differently. Over the 2008/09 year to date the number of major injuries rose by 9.5% in public services compared with the same period last year, but fell by 8 to10% in food, drink and tobacco manufacturing, rest of manufacturing, and construction sectors.
However, the statistics for quarter two to quarter three show a rise in the number of major injuries in other sectors.
The rate of major injuries in food, drink and tobacco rose by 18.2& and 7.7%in retail, wholesale & hospitality. The number fell by 10.7% in construction.
Mr Urpeth said: “There has been a major downward trend since 2005 but it is worrying that certain sectors are seeing a rise in the number of injuries at work in quarter three.
“The evidence suggests that the rate of accidents is starting to fall much slower than in previous years, and in some sectors it is starting to rise, so there is clearly more work to be done.”
