New Year safety pledge pushed by HSE
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has urged companies across
the country to take a fresh look at their health and safety
procedures for 2011.
'Start the New Year as you mean to go on,' is the message being
pushed by the industry body, which is warning employers that there
is no room for complacency when it comes to the health and safety
of workers.
HSE reported that employees across the country reported 26,061
major injuries – which range from serious burns to amputations of
limbs – in 2010. This was a decrease on the 2008/09 figure of
27,894.
The number of staff members killed in the workplace also
dropped, from 179 in 2009 to 152 last year. The 2010 tally
represents the lowest level on record in this country, with 0.5
deaths per 100,000 workers.
Head of Operations for HSE in London, Tim Galloway, said, “The
decrease in the numbers of workers killed or injured through their
work is encouraging, but we must also remember that each death
results in a family missing a loved one this festive season.
“Employers cannot be complacent; they must stay vigilant and
learn the lessons from the past to ensure they protect their
workers in the future.
“Putting in place simple, straightforward health and safety
measures can save lives. It is not good for companies or their
workers if they are off through an injury or ill health,” he
added.