New official figures show that work needs to be done in relation to accidents at work in the UK.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released official figures earlier this month in relation to health and safety in the workplace in 2018. The findings make for a distressing read for UK workers.
The annual statistics, compiled by HSE from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and other sources, cover work-related ill health, workplace injuries, working days lost, costs to Britain and enforcement action taken.
The figures are taken from October 2017 to October 2018, with the next report taking place in October 2019.
The facts and figures
The key facts in the HSE report are:
- 30.7 million working days lost due to work-related ill health and workplace injuries
- 71,062 non-fatal injuries reported by employees
- 144 fatal injuries in the workplace
- £5.2 billion annual cost of workplace injury, 2016/17
- 1.4 million work-related ill health cases (new or long-standing), 2017/18
- 541,000 workers suffering from work-related ill health in 2017/18
Despite being one of the safest places to work in Europe, the figures show that the UK still has a lot of work to do in relation to worker safety.
While workplace injuries have dropped year on year, we have seen an increase in work-related stress, depression or anxiety, as well as rising occupational lung disease.
What the HSE said
Martin Temple, HSE chair, stated:
‘These figures should serve as a reminder to us of the importance to manage risk and undertake good health and safety practice in the workplace.
‘Great Britain’s health and safety record is something we should all be proud of, but there is still much to be done to ensure that every worker goes home at the end of their working day safe and healthy.
When releasing the new figures, HSE simply said:
Too many workers in Britain’s workplaces are still being injured or made ill by their work a new report shows.
These figures confirm the scale of the challenge HSE faces in making Britain a healthier and safer place to work and shows that there are still areas to improve on to prevent death, injury and ill health in the workplace.
How can Percy Hughes & Roberts help?
At Percy Hughes & Roberts, our team understand going through a workplace injury can be a stressful and traumatic time. Many people are often apprehensive about possibly bringing a claim against their employer. However, our personal injury team is on-hand to guide you through any potential claim you may have.
Our personal injury team are all fully qualified solicitors with a wealth of experience to ensure you get fully compensated for your injuries and financial losses. You will have direct contact with your own personal solicitor who will regularly update you on the status of your case.
If you would like to contact one of the team, get in touch with our expert accidents at work solicitors today by calling 0151 666 9090 or, alternatively, fill out our “Quick Enquiry” form and one of our advisors will get back to you right away.
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