Figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have shown that accidents at work has increased and reveal that, in the years, 2013/2014, 15 people lost their lives while at work across the North West, and 9,432 were injured in the workplace. These figures compare to 14 deaths and 9,401 work-related injuries across the region in 2012. In addition to this, approximately 120,000 have been made ill because of their work in the same period.
Figures across the whole of Great Britain were even more shocking, with 133 deaths at work in 2013/14, over 79,500 injuries and an estimate of 1.1 million people made ill.
The study also revealed that construction, manufacturing and waste management are the most dangerous areas of work, and local employers have been urged to review whether they can do more to protect their workforce.
Areas of particular concern include falls from working at height; poorly maintained machinery and failing to satisfactorily manage workplace transport.
HSE’s Head of Operations for the North West, Steven Smith, said:
“The families of the workers in the North West who sadly lost their lives last year have just had to spend the festive
period without their loved ones, while hundreds of
other workers were made ill through their work or had their lives changed forever
by a major injury.
“The figures offer encouragement that we are continuing to head in the right direction, but they also show that we
can still go further and challenge the industries where there is room to do more.
“Workplace conditions have improved dramatically in the past tour decades, but as employers plan and prepare for the
new financial year they need to ensure that health,
safety and welfare is a clear focus.”
