 Home Health and Safety Health and Safety News
National H&S figures look bad but better news for food industry
03 November 2007
The national health and safety statistics released by the HSE show an increase in days lost to ill health and in deaths at work. However the food manufacturing sector continues to show a marked improvement in its safety performance.
National health and safety statistics for 2006/2007 show an increase in days lost to work-related illness and injuries. Last year 36 million days were lost mainly as a result of an increase in the number of workers suffering from stress-related illness or musculoskeletal disorders. The number of workers killed at work was also up from 217 last year to 241 this year.
Responding to the figures, Brendan Barber TUC General Secretary, said, ''This is bad news for everyone. Too many employers are getting off the hook because the HSE does not have the tools to deal with the massive workplace health problems we face. We share the HSE's recognition that more needs to be done on enforcement and welcome the steps that have been taken. But the HSE cannot meet its targets for reducing occupational ill-health by 2010 without a significant increase in the resources available. Instead, the HSC has had its workforce reduced and faces further cuts of up to five per cent for the next three years as a result of the current spending review. These spending trends must be reversed. Otherwise, employers will continue to get away with playing fast and loose with their staff's heath.'
However there was some good news for the food manufacturing industry where the overall injury rate dropped by a further 11% in 2006/07. That means that since the 'Recipe for Safety' initiative started in 1990/91, the overall injury rate has dropped by 45.6%. There are now 8,300 fewer injuries/year in food manufacture than in 1990/91. The steepest annual injury reductions in the industry have occurred since the Food Manufacture H&S Forum was set up. The forum brings together unions in the industry with employers' organisations and the HSE to agree joint targets for action.
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