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News Article
Worrying rise in work related deaths
Posted by Carl Gryniewicz | Date Posted 09.08.2007 | Time Posted 10:21:47 | Views: 543
At work last year in Great Britain more people died than in any other year since 2001/02. In total 241 workers lost their lives in 2006/07. This new figure is up a massive 11 per cent compared to last year's record low of 217, it is also the highest number of fatalities since five years ago which saw a high of 295.
The construction industry was responsible for a large percentage of the death rate. In total it contributed 77 deaths which was up from 60 in the previous year.
Largely the blame for the worrying increase was laid directly at the door of bosses and workers by the HSC and HSE. Speaking at the launch of the latest statistics on 26 July HSE chief executive, Geoffrey Podger, said: "To have improved on last year's record low would have required sustained effort from employers and employees, and that hasn't happened. What we are seeing is a failure to follow established good procedures and practice, not the emergence of new risks." HSC chair, Sir Bill Callaghan, added: "The HSC and HSE are taking action – the ball is now firmly in industry's court."
However even with the high death rate - the level of enforcement in 2006/07 was actually up on the previous year. In total there were 1150 prosecution breaches (compared to 840 in 2005/06) and there was 7800 enforcement notices issued (compared to 6000 the year before).
Due to the increase in deaths in construction, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain has announced that a stakeholder forum will be held in September at which key industry figures will focus on ways to improve health and safety in the house-building and refurbishment sectors. He said: "Any rise in fatalities is not only shocking, it is completely unacceptable. It is vital that everyone involved in the construction industry puts health and safety first, everyone from clients to employers, designers to suppliers, large construction firms right down to the smallest builders."
Published in sections: Health and Safety ::
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21.01.2009
HSE warns that firms exposing untrained workers to asbestos will be penalised
The HSE is warning that firms exposing workers to asbestos without training will be penalised. It also reiterated that electrical contracting companies and other building and refurbishment trades must provide suitable asbestos awareness training to employees or face prosecution.
Posted by Chris Owen
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