Almost 40% Workers Untrained On H&S Risks

A study done by the HSE during August and December '05 amongst the UK workforce shoos alarming figures in relation to the statutory required upon the employer to provide full health and safety training to all the workforce.

A total of 10,016 workers were involved and results have been published in a report entitled, 'Workplace Health & Safety Survey Programme'.

In the area of DSE use, the survey states "....... an estimated 62% had received health and safety training, guidance or information on the use of their PC/laptop and the layout of their workstation. Most workers (90%) who had received training, guidance or information were very or fairly confident that this would help prevent them from developing a health problem."

The report goes on to say that some 8.6% of those questioned indicated that the risk of developing a health problem through their work had actually increased, with 11% being concerned that working on PCs would increase their risk of ill health as a result.

But when it comes to the issue of work related stress, the figures become worse:

"Preventive action by employers was indicated by less than a third of workers (an estimated 28% said their employer had undertaken some initiative to reduce stress; 30% said their employer had discussed work stress with them..."

Amongst those working from heights, the responses showed a similar training percentage as that for DSE:

"An estimated 62% of workers required to work at height have received health and safety training, for example on the use of equipment. Nearly all, an estimated 97%, were very or fairly confident that the training they had received would reduce the risk of falling from height at work."

Slips Trips and Falls, clearly is an area needing drastic improvement with "an estimated 30% of workers walk across floors which present a risk of slipping or tripping (e.g. slippery, obstructed, badly lit)."

Yet only 52% have received some health and safety training or guidance on preventing slips or trips in the workplace.

Reporting further on the survey this week, TUC Risks says,

" The survey suggested a level of work-related ill-health more than double that estimated by the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and injuries requiring four or more days absence from work about 40 per cent higher."

TUC head of safety Hugh Robertson responded to the report by stating he will be asking the HSE to review its plans for tackling workplace ill-health. "This report confirms what many people have said all along - occupational ill-health is a much bigger problem than HSE's earlier estimates have indicated." He added. "We must remember that all these illnesses are preventable and we hope the HSE will work with unions and employers to devise an urgent and effective preventive strategy.'

Download the full report

Source: HSE: Workplace Health And Safety Survey Programme 2005 Worker Survey First Findings Report

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