The HSE have released the latest statistics for 2013/14.
The encouraging aspect is that they are getting better year by year. However they are still too high!
So this week I thought that I would give you some figures to consider
The latest figures from the HSE show:
Key figures for Great Britain (2013/14)
- 1.2 million working people suffering from a work-related illness
- 2535 mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures (2012)
- 133 workers killed at work
- 78 000 other injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR
- 629 000 injuries at work from the Labour Force Survey
- 28.2 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
- £14.2 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2012/13)
Ill Health
1.2 million people who worked during the last year were suffering from an illness (long-standing as well as new cases) they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work. 0.5 million of these were new conditions which started during the year.
A further 0.8 million former workers (who last worked over 12 months ago) were suffering from an illness which was caused or made worse by their past work. 
2535 people died from mesothelioma in 2012 and thousands more from other occupational cancers and diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
More than half of these cancer deaths were caused by past exposures to asbestos (either mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer). The next four biggest categories of occupational cancer were lung cancer due to silica, diesel engine exhaust, and mineral oils, and breast cancer due to shift work
- Work related stress highest rates in human health and social care, education and public administration industries
- 11.3 million working days lost through work related stress
- 8.3 million working days lost through musculoskeletal disorders
- Approximately 40% of disorders affect the back, and 40% affect the upper limbs
- 8000 deaths and 13 500 new cases of occupational cancer estimated per year
- Three times more men than women die from occupational cancer
- Most new cases are lung cancer, breast cancer or skin cancer
- 177 occupational asthma cases seen by consultants in 2013
| Accidents at work | The numbers for 2013/14 | The numbers for 2012/13 |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 133 | 148 |
| Serious Injury | 20,000 | 21,000 |
| Moderate Injury | 78,000 | 80,000 |
| 7 days off work | 148,000 | 175,000 |
| 3 days off work | 203,000 | 231,000 |
| Self reported | 629,000 | 646,000 |
- Most frequent causes of injury are manual handling, slips and trips and falls from height
- Higher rates for men than for women
- Highest rates in sewerage and waste supply, agriculture, construction and transport
Injury benefit claims
- About 150 new claims are awarded industrial injuries disablement benefit every year for noise induced hearing loss
- Around 1000 new claims for industrial injuries disablement benefit each year for hand arm vibration disorders
What does all this cost?
It is estimated that it cost a total £14.2 billion per year resulting from current or recent working conditions (2012/13 estimate in 2012 prices). It must be noted that costs have fallen with signs of levelling off in recent years although these figures exclude costs of cancer – work is under way to estimate these.
And of course the largest single cost is non-financial value given to pain, grief and suffering!
If you have any questions about these statistics, or would like to see what you can do to improve things at your place of work, please contact us by phone 01458 253682 or Email
Our CDM2015 courses have been given APS validation!
The Wilkins Safety Group is pleased to be able to announce that our CDM2015 Awareness course has been scrutinised by James Ritchie and Andrew Leslie of The Association for Project Safety. Both are impressed with the course and have agreed to validate it.
Consequently this course is now an accredited course and any individual who successfully completes it may claim points towards membership of the Association for Project Safety. They will also receive an APS certificate.
Our first two course dates are Sold Out!
However there is a third day and this is Thursday 7th May again at Taunton Racecourse – See separate notice. But please note that as I write this newsletter there are only 3 places left
So, if you want to come you MUST BOOK NOW
We are also looking to run this course in the Bristol, Bath, Exeter areas as well as Dorset and further afield. Let us know if you would like it run in your area or “In House”
We have also been asked to run an open course in London so look out for the dates!!
Other courses Coming soon!
As well as the CDM2015 course we have been asked about
- Fire Warden Courses,
- Health and Safety for SME Owners,
- First Aid Training,
- Construction Site Safety Awareness
So we are arranging dates for these and other courses, over the next few months
If you have any questions about these courses or any other training or would like us to run a particular course for you, call Jon Wilkins of the Wilkins Safety Group on 01458 253682 or email him at [email protected]
