banner unionsafete

 

Significant Drop In HSE Injury Investigation Levels

New research published by the UK's largest trade union, Unite, shows investigation levels into major injuries to workers have declined by 43% between 2001/2 and 2006/7.

Click to download the reportIn 2006/7, the last year when statistics are available, only 10.5% of major injuries reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were investigated.

The research, undertaken by the Centre for Corporate Accountability for Unite, also shows that in the same five year period there has been a 69% reduction in the number of worker 'over-three day' injuries investigated, a 31% decline in the number of 'dangerous occurrences' investigated, and a 68% decline in the number of members of the public injuries investigated.

The issue of investigation levels - the central concern of the report - is crucial, because unless the HSE investigates an incident, it cannot know whether the injury or dangerous occurrence was caused by a health and safety failure. Therefore, a decision not to investigate can result in failures both in relation to prevention and in securing criminal accountability.

Derek Simpson, Unite Joint General Secretary, said: "This report highlights the need for the government to address the problem accordingly and admit that the HSE needs more money, more resources, and more inspectors. We believe the most fundamental right for workers is that they return home from work to their families, healthy and safe.

"The significant reductions in the level of investigations and prosecutions together with less HSE inspectors, goes to the heart of the question of levels of adequate HSE resources.

"Unite activists are bearing the strain caused by such low levels of operating inspectors, and they are continually expected to police their own workplaces. However, they are doing a great job, reducing accident rates by half compared to non-unionised workplaces. Unite will continue the campaign to secure new and improved legal rights for safety reps."

The research shows that there were significant variations in investigation levels between sectors. In 2006/7 the level of investigation ranged from 24.5% in the agricultural sector to 5.3% in the services sector. In the construction sector, the sector with the most number of reported deaths, only 14.1% of major injuries were investigated, a reduction from 20% six years earlier

There was also significant variation in different regions. In 2006/7, the level of investigation ranged from 14% in Scotland to 5.3% in London.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has reacted to the latest fatal and major injury statistics for Scotland by highlighting the significant cuts in safety inspectors over the last four years

Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary said: “It is extremely disappointing that these statistics reveal no improvement whatsoever at a time when our Government and the HSE espouses the message that health and safety should be at the cornerstone of any civilised society.

“The sad fact is that yet again 32 families lost loved ones as a result of work related incidents, exactly the same figure as last year and two more than in 2006/07. In addition, very little progress has been made in reducing major injuries in three years.

“Figures released to Hazards Magazine reveal that cuts in HSE frontline inspectors have had a greater impact on Scotland than elsewhere. The number of HSE inspectors has fallen from 182 to 158 since 2004, ironically the same years as the ICL explosion, the worst loss of life in an onshore industrial accident since 22 workers lost their lives in the upholstery factory in James Watt Street 1968.

“If the Government genuinely believes that health and safety is at the cornerstone of our civilised society then we challenge them to forget the deregulatory pleadings of business organisations and resource the HSE to ensure that workplaces are adequately inspected and not wait until death and injury occur before taking action.”

Source: CCA / Unite / STUC



Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services