HSE launches campaign to prevent work accidents
With the number of work accident claims being expected to increase during the recession after a survey revealed that firms are cutting back on safety measures, employers are being advised to ensure that employees are provided with adequate training and clothing to avoid harm when they are at work.
According to a survey from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over a quarter of firms stated that they are feeling pressured to reduce the costs of their health and safety measures in fear of struggling financially as a result of the economic downturn.
Previously, a large number of firms admitted to paying little attention to safety measures at work, as they concentrated on how to fight against the recession.
A HSE director said: "Nearly eight out of 10 business leaders acknowledged that good health and safety standards are beneficial, with the cost of preventing accidents almost always less than the disastrous costs of an accident in both financial and human terms."
As a result, the HSE has launched a new strategy to help reduce the number of work accidents in the UK.
Be part of the solution campaign
The HSE's five-year "be part of the solution" campaign, which was launched earlier this month, aims to show employers and employees how the competitiveness within businesses can be maintained without failing to ensure safety at work.
Tom Mullarkey, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "In a highly competitive market in which clients demand higher standards in order to divorce themselves from the risk of poor contractor performance, the ability to demonstrate effective health and safety management is all the more important in winning new business."
Figures from the HSE found that 229 workers were killed during an accident at work in 2007-08 alone, while 136,771 suffered from serious personal injuries.
According to the HSE, the figure is unacceptable and is now calling on the UK workforce to help improve health and safety at work.
A firm was recently fined over £6,500 for the injuries of a worker after it had breached health and safety requirements.
HSE prosecutes firm
An employer who failed to supply a 34 year old worker with any training or head protection has been fined £6,650 after the worker died as a result of losing control of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on a farm.
The worker had been employed to work at the farm just three days before the accident.
He was told to move cattle from one part of the field to another with the use of an ATV despite not having had received any formal training on how to use the vehicle. He had never driven an ATV before and the firm had also failed to provide him with head protection.
The man died from severe head injuries after crashing the ATV into a tree.
Following an investigation by the HSE, the ATV had a number of defects. The investigation found that the vehicle had the wrong tyre pressure and faulty rear brakes.
The firm admitted to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined.
An injury lawyer said: "Employers have a duty to provide employees with safe and suitable work equipment which is properly maintained.
"Employers are also under a duty to provide workers with suitable personal protective equipment designed to prevent injury in the event of an accident at work."
Updated on 22/06/2009