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As previously reported by Unionsafety, at last months IER Conference in Liverpool, Hilda Palmer from Greater Manchester Hazards challenged the official workplace death figures used by the HSE pointing out they do not include many things such as deaths on the roads whilst people are driving to work. Now IOSH have this week, attacked the Government for failing to classify road accidents involving people driving for their work as work-related accidents. Despite calls from IOSH and other health and safety campaigners for work deaths on the road to be reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR), the Government has refused to do so. IOSH President, Ray Hurst, commenting on a recent Government response to an inquiry by the House of Commons Select Committee on Work and Pensions on the subject of workplace health and safety, described the Government response to the inquiry as a "missed opportunity" to rectify the situation. He said, "The health and safety statistics published as they are underestimates the true situation. The fatal injury statistics we get are just for workplace accidents – they don't include work-related road deaths, and we believe there are between 800 and 1000 of them each year. Other countries do include road deaths among their health and safety statistics." The IOSH President pointed out the UK's roads represent a major hazard, as well as a major source of employment – with the likes of lorry, van, bus and taxi drivers and sales staff all making use of the roads to earn their living. He said, "Work factors can often affect these people. For instance, if they are forced to drive for long hours or are put under excessive targets, causing stress. These in turn can have devastating impacts on the person and on other road users … It seems the roads are the one place where employers will continue to be able to get away with putting their workers lives, and those of others, at risk. Work-related road deaths are a gaping hole in our health and safety recording."
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