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First aid assessment Bristol

On the 1st November 2017, the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) published online the latest statistics on work-related Health and Safety in Great Britain

These statistics have highlighted some very interesting facts. To summarise some key points;

  • 1.3 million working people suffering from a work-related ill health
  • 2,542 mesothelioma deaths (lung disease) due to past asbestos exposures (2015)
  • 137 workers killed at work
  • 609,000 injuries occurred at work
  • 70,116 injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR
  • 31.2 million working days lost due to work-related ill health and workplace injury
  • £14.9 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2015/16)

The UK consistently has one of the lowest standardised rates of fatal injury across the EU, lower than other large economies and the EU average. Non-fatal injuries in the UK were at a similar level to other large economies in 2013. UK rates of work-related ill health resulting in sick leave were lower than most other EU countries however although there has been a reduction in the number of workplace injuries, the Annual Cost to Britain for work-related injury and ill health in 2015/16,  (excluding long latency illness such as cancer) is £14.9billion. Broken down, this is £3.4 billion Government money, £2.9 billion Employers money and £8.6billion individuals money, with £9.7billion Annual costs of NEW cases of work-related ill health. Total costs include financial costs and human costs. Financial costs cover the loss of output, healthcare costs and other payments made. Human costs are the monetary valuation given to pain, grief, suffering and loss of life.

WORKPLACE INJURY

There has been a long-term downward trend in the rate of fatal injury, with indications of levelling off in recent years with 137 Workers killed at work in 2016/17 with 609,000 estimated non-fatal injuries to workers. 5.5 million Estimated working days lost due to non-fatal workplace injuries. The rate of non-fatal injury to employees reported by employers shows a long-term downward trend, which has continued in more recent years. However, reporting is known to be incomplete and may be distorting the trend. 70,116 employee non-fatal injuries were reported by employers under RIDDOR in 2016/17. If you are unsure on when to report an accident to RIDDOR, read our consultant’s Sam’s general advice and guidance on accident reporting here 

To help prevent workplace injury, make sure your Risk Assessments are all up to date. If you are confused by risk assessment’s, we offer a 3 hour Risk Assessment course which leaves delegates with a clear understanding of the risk assessment process. We look at a number of different risk assessment templates (including your own) and complete a number of practical exercises and includes the following:

  • The law
  • Why a risk assessment is important
  • The competent person
  • Definition of common terms
  • The five steps the risk assessment
  • Practical exercises

Alternatively, contact us for our Hassle-Free Health and Safety consultancy service (further details can be found further below).

WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS

Manual handling, awkward or tiring positions and keyboard work or repetitive action are estimated to be the main causes of work-related musculoskeletal disorders with 507,000 Workers suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (new or longstanding) in 2016/17 and accounting for 8.9 million working days lost due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2016/17

Here at Acorn, we take the time to gain an understanding of your manual handling requirements within your organisation to ensure we provide meaningful and relevant training. We offer 8 Manual Handling training courses and we are excellent at adapting courses to suit the particular customer needs and making manual handling training both relevant and enjoyable to help you not fall into this statistic

ENFORCEMENT

This year has seen a fall in the number of cases being prosecuted following several years of an upward trend. 554 cases were prosecuted, or referred to the COPFS for prosecution in Scotland, by HSE where a conviction was achieved in 2016/17

The number of notices issued by all enforcing bodies rose this year following several years of a downward trend. There were 11,913 notices issued by all enforcing bodies in 2016/17

This is the first full year where new sentencing guidelines have been in effect. Under these guidelines the fine is related to the turnover of organisations and, as a result, large organisations convicted of offences are receiving larger fines than seen prior to these guidelines. £69.9million was issued in fines resulting from prosecutions taken, or referred to the COPFS for prosecution in Scotland, by HSE where a conviction was achieved in 2016/17

If you are unclear about the Health & Safety legislation required for your company, contact us about our Hassle Free consultancy service. Acorn Health & Safety is a leading provider of health and safety consultancy in the South West. Whether you require support with a one-off assessment or a complete health and safety management system we can help

The full report can be seen here HSE 2017 Statistics

(Statistics according to self-reports from the Labour Force Survey in 2016/17)