The latest United Kingdom OHS statistics for 2012 - 2013 have just been published by the UK Health and safety Executive (UK HSE)
The UK HSE statistics includes the following key annual figures:
• 148 workers were killed at work during the previous year;
• 78,222 injuries to employees were reported. Due to changes in legal reporting requirements it is not possible to compare directly with previous years although statistical analysis suggests a downward trend is continuing;
• 175,000 reportable injuries leading to over-7-day absence occurred;
• 5.2 million working days were lost due to workplace injury. This figure equates to an average 8.1 days per injury;
• In 2011, there were 2,291 Mesothelioma deaths caused by past exposure to asbestos;
• The number of Mesothelioma deaths is expected to continue to increase in future years before peaking in 2020;
• 13,503 enforcement notices were issued by the UK HSE and local authorities; a decrease of 15 per cent from the previous year;
• The UK HSE completed 597 prosecution cases (covering 973 offences) and secured a conviction in 95per cent of cases; and
• Workplace injuries and ill health (excluding cancer) cost society an estimated £13.8 billion.