EEF comment on 2008/9 workplace fatal injury statistics

Responding to the latest fatal injury statistics released by the Office of National Statistics EEF, the Manufacturers Organisation cautiously welcomed signs of a downward trend

Steve Pointer, Head of Health and Safety Policy at EEF, commented

“Care needs to be taken about drawing too many conclusions from a single year’s figures however the latest Office of National Statistics figures do warrant some cautious optimism, both the rate and total number of fatalities have declined.

“It is especially good to see the rates of fatal injury dropping in two of the sectors that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been specifically targeting: agriculture and construction. We need to see this trend continue over the coming years.

“Of course any death is a tragedy and our thoughts should be with those affected.”

On the statistics covering the Manufacturing sector Steve added:

“The figures for manufacturing are very much as we anticipated, there has been a slight drop in the absolute numbers and the rate remains the same. Fears of an increase in fatal accidents due to corner-cutting in the recession are not borne-out in these figures.

“Over the years manufacturing industry has greatly reduced the number and rate of fatal injuries, but we must not be complacent. We need to collectively get behind the new HSE strategy to turn its objectives into a reality. EEF has not only signed up to the HSE pledge, but we have also agreed a joint delivery plan with HSE. This kind of practical action will help us to maintain the pressure on reducing the numbers of workplace related injuries and ill health.”

Notes for editors

Notes to Editors

HSE published its annual fatal injury statistics report today. The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2008/09 is 180, and corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.6 per 100 000 workers. In manufacturing there were 32 deaths and the rate of fatal injury was 1.1 per 100 000 workers, the same as the average rate for the previous five years. This compares with a rate of more than 2.0 per 100 000 workers in the 1980s.

EEF has one of the largest networks of fully qualified health and safety advisers and trainers throughout England and Wales and is uniquely placed to support manufacturing businesses in managing the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees.

EEF’s support includes:

· Expert advice and guidance by fully qualified advisers

· Health and safety auditing, risk assessment and consultancy

· A wide range of training courses, seminars and events

· Advice on absence management, including an award-winning toolkit

Occupational health surveillance and support

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