Safety Signs News

Make health and safety your new year message, HSE tells employers

4th January 2011 | Health and Safety Signs

Posted by Nicole Stevens.

Employers across the UK are being urged to make health and safety their top priority in the new year.

The call comes from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which has issued the alert to regions throughout the country, outlining the number of injuries and fatalities per region.

The regulator is warning that despite the total number of work-related fatalities being at a record low, there should be no room for complacency.

In 2009/10, 152 workers were killed while at work, a rate of 0.5 per 100,000 workers. 121,430 other injuries were reported under RIDDOR, a rate of 473 per 100,000 workers.

According to the Labour Force Survey, 233,000 reportable injuries occurred, a rate of 840 for every 100,000 workers.

"Employers cannot be complacent; they must stay vigilant and learn the lessons from the past to ensure they protect their workers in the future," Terry Rose, regional director for HSE in the South West, said.

"Putting in place simple, straightforward health and safety measures can saves lives. It is not good for companies or their workers if they are off through an injury or ill-health." ADNFCR-2754-ID-800320759-ADNFCR