Rise in workplace fatalities caused by health and safety cutbacks??

As annual statistics reveal that the number of workplace fatalities has risen in the past year, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) speaks out about concerns that ‘belt-tightening’ during the global recession has led to a fall in safety standards.

Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that 171 work-related deaths occurred between April 2010 and March 2011, compared to 147 in the previous year. In total, over 26 million working days were lost last year due to injury and ill-health, with the construction and agricultural industries continuing to experience the highest levels of work-related injuries.

Richard Jones, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at IOSH, said: “It’s disappointing that the drop in fatal injuries from last year hasn’t been maintained – even one death is too many. We’re concerned that this could be a delayed knock-on effect of recession and ‘belt-tightening’ – like cutting back on training and maintenance – that could now be beginning to bite.”

However, the statistics weren’t all doom and gloom. While workplace fatalities have increased, overall occurrences of work-related injury and illness have reduced. The year 2010/11 saw the total number of major workplace injuries decrease by over 1,500 while reports of work-related illness dropped from 1.3 million to 1.2 million in the same period.

While these new statistics mean that Britain continues to have the lowest rate of workplace fatalities in Europe, and one of the lowest rates of work-related ill-health, IOSH representatives are still concerned about the rising fatality figures.

Richard explained: “These slightly improved figures on injury and ill-health are welcome and it’s positive that fewer people returned home from work with conditions that are preventable. However, far more still needs to be done. In the current climate it can be difficult to tell whether these figures show genuine improvement in occupational safety and health management, or whether they reflect lower levels of industrial activity during this period of austerity.”

First Response Training can offer a wide range of health and safety training in a variety of formats to suit all needs and budgets. They offer a range of innovative solutions and work collaboratively with organisations to find a solution that fits their budget.

Perry Leeks, Managing Director at First Response, says: “We want to help our customers to create and maintain safe working environments and are constantly looking to develop new and effective ways of helping people train their workforce properly but cost effectively.

“As well as direct provision, classroom-based training, we can also offer e-learning courses, webinar sessions, distance learning manuals and blended learning options. We are a flexible training provider who believes that good health and safety management and comprehensive training can help to save lives, reduce injury and ill-health and improve business results.”

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