Latest Health and Safety Figures Published

Latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show a 28% increase in worker injuries year- on-year and a steep increase in ill health compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Summary of the Statistics for 2022

• Up 5.8% from last year with 1.8 million working people suffering from a work-related illness, of which:

     o   914,000 workers suffering work-related stress, depression or anxiety

     o   477,000 workers suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder

     o   123,000 workers suffering from Covid-19 which they believe may have been from an exposure at work.

• 123 workers killed in work-related accidents
• 565,000 workers sustained a non-fatal injury – representing a year-on-year increase of 28%, but still below that of pre-pandemic levels
• 61,713 injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR
• 36.8 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
• £18.8 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions

Work-Related Stress

Stress, depression and anxiety remain the leading causes of work-related ill health, accounting for 51% of all ill-health cases. While there has been a 17.5% drop in new cases, overall cases have increased by 11.2%, with over 17 million working days lost as a result.

Sector-wise, human health, social work and public administration were found to have the highest rates of work-related ill health. Notably, education remains third with 59% of all ill-health cases related to stress, depression and anxiety.

Fatal Accidents

According to the HSE’s figures, there was a total of 123 work-related fatalities between April 2021 and March 2022, compared to 145 the previous year. Although this is lower than last year’s rate, the difference is not statistically significant.

Having performed poorly over the last five years – with a fatal injury rate 11 times higher than the industry average – the waste and recycling sector reported just a single fatality in 2021/22. The construction sector, as well as agriculture, forestry and fishing also had rates which were down on previous years.

But while some sectors are becoming safer, others recorded more fatalities than usual. In particular, the manufacturing sector saw 22 deaths in 2021/22, up from 19 the previous year, and the transport and storage sector saw an increase of 5 deaths, from 11 to 16.

The five main causes of fatal injury have remained the same for many years and this year is no different with “falls from height” continuing to be the leading cause. “Being struck by a moving vehicle” and “being struck by a moving object” remain the second and third most common cause of work-related fatality.

Injuries

By accident type, the report reflects previous years. Handling, lifting or carrying, and being struck by a moving object remain the leading causes of non-fatal work-related injuries, closely followed by falls from height and work-related violence. Slips, trip and falls, though, are at the same level as previous years.

Advice

• Prioritise stress management in the workplace. The HSE’s Management Standard provides a useful starting point by looking at six key areas:

     o   Demands – are there issues with workload, work patterns, etc.?

     o   Control – how much say do people have in the way they do their work?

     o   Support – do employees receive the encouragement, resources and support they need?

     o   Relationships – are you promoting a positive working culture?

     o   Role – do people understand their role and are the responsibilities and expectations clear?

     o   Change – Upheaval and uncertainty can lead to anxiety and stress and how the organisation manages and communicates change is key.

• Don’t become complacent. Covid-19 put health and safety firmly on the agenda and it must continue to be a priority, Employers should focus on the suitability of their risk assessments. This is a valuable tool in managing all sorts of workplace health and safety risks, including stress.
• Particularly in high-risk sectors such as construction, focus on reducing falls from height by ensuring that work at height is properly planned, that appropriate equipment is used and operatives are properly trained.
• Provide staff with suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training so that they inform you if they are injured at work. A competent person should then record and investigate the accident and, if defined as above, report it accordingly to the enforcing authority.

For more information, please contact Kathryn Quinley