HSE publishes 2016 statistics

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has released its annual figures detailing how the UK is performing in terms of health and safety. The statistics reveal that:

  • 144 people were killed at work in 2015/16. This is an increase from 142 people in 2014/15.
  • 72,702 non-fatal injuries were reported by employers. This is a decrease from the 2014/15 figure of 76,000.
  • An estimated 9 million working days were lost due to work-related illness. This is a decrease from 27.3 million in 2014/15.
  • The estimated annual cost of work-related injury in 2015/16 is £14.1 billion

The increase in fatal accidents over the past two years is sad news, although the decrease in non-fatal injuries and working days lost is encouraging.

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Director prosecutions on the rise: Advice on staying protected

Sobering data shows that, in the year to March 2016, 46 company directors and managers were prosecuted for health and safety offences – more than triple the previous year’s total of 15 prosecutions.

The majority of prosecutions followed the death or injury of an employee and many were in the construction sector. Of those prosecuted, 34 were found guilty and 12 received prison sentences, the longest of which was two years. The data was obtained by law firm Clyde & Co using the Freedom of Information Act.

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New health and safety sentencing guidelines start to bite

New sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences came into force in February this year, and businesses need to be aware of the potential financial and reputational ramifications.

Under the new guidelines, fines will be calculated in a staged process which factors in the level of harm involved, culpability and the turnover of the organisation.

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Driver safety: Your obligations as an employer

Work-related driving is one of the riskiest activities that staff will undertake, with more than 500 deaths every year.

As with any other type of work, driving is covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act which requires employers to do what is reasonably practicable to protect employees and others from harm.

Employers also need to undertake a risk assessment of all work activities, including driving, and put in place measures identified as part of this process.

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