Download pdf - Health and safety statistics 2008/09 · 4 Health and safety statistics highlights 2005 Key facts This document gives the latest statistics on work-related health and

Health and safety \\ Statistics 2008/09

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A National Statistics publication

National Statistics are produced to high professionalstandards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice.They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensurethat they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

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Health and safety statistics highlights 2005

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Contents

Key facts page 4

Work-related ill health pages 5-7

Workplace injuries pages 8-10

Enforcement pages 11-13

Countries and Regions pages 14-15

Industry sectors page 16

Occupation groups page 17

Progress against targets pages 18-23

Sources and definitions pages 24-27

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Key facts

This document gives the latest statistics on work-related health and safety in Great Britain. More detail is at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics.

Key facts for 2008/09 are:

Ill health 1.2 million people who worked during the last year were suffering from an illness (long-standing as well as new cases) they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work. 551 000 of these were new cases.

2156 people died of mesothelioma (2007), and thousands more from other occupational cancers and lung diseases.

Injuries180 workers were killed at work, a rate of 0.6 per 100 000 workers.

131 895 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR, a rate of 502.2 per 100 000 employees.

246 000 reportable injuries occurred, according to the Labour Force Survey (LFS), a rate of 870 per 100 000 workers.

Working days lost29.3 million days were lost overall (1.24 days per worker), 24.6 million due to work-related ill health and 4.7 million due to workplace injury.

Health and safety targets: progress to 2008/09Ill health: probably not on track to meet Revitalising target.

Fatal and major injuries: on track to meet Revitalising target.

Days lost per worker: probably on track to meet Revitalising target.

Enforcement1245 offences were prosecuted by HSE and ORR.329 offences were prosecuted by local authorities.

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400

800

1200

1600

2000

1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009

Number of deaths or cases

Years

Figure 1: Mesothelioma deaths and disablement benefit cases 1981-2008

Disablement benefitDeath certificates

Fatal diseases

Each year thousands of people die from work-related diseases ■

mainly due to exposures many years ago. The number of cancer deaths must be estimated rather than counted. ■

Emerging findings from work to produce up-to-date estimates suggest the annual number of work-related cancer deaths is currently around 8000. The next phase of the project will seek to estimate the number of cancers that will result from current conditions. About 4000 cancer deaths each year are due to past exposure to ■

asbestos. In 2007 there were 96 deaths from asbestosis (as underlying ■

cause), and 156 from other types of pneumoconiosis, mostly due to coal dust and silica.Around 15% of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD – ■

including bronchitis and emphysema) may be work related. This suggests there could be some 4000 COPD deaths each year due to past occupational exposures to fumes, chemicals and dusts.

The total number of mesothelioma deaths has increased from 153 ■

in 1968 to 2156 in 2007. There were 1812 deaths among men in 2007 with the annual number predicted to increase to a peak over 2000 around the year 2016.Deaths occurring now reflect industrial conditions of the past. ■

Male deaths under 55 have been falling since the mid 1990s. ww

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iHealth and safety statistics highlights 2005

Self-reported ill health

In 2008/09 an estimated 1.2 million people who had worked in ■

the last 12 months suffered from ill health which they thought was work related, according to the LFS. Musculoskeletal disorders and stress were the most commonly ■

reported illness types.

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Back mainly affected

Lower limbs mainly affected

Stress, depression or anxiety

Breathing or lung problems

Infectious disease

Upper limbs or neck mainly affected

Any musculoskeletal disorders

Figure 2: Estimated prevalence of self-reported work-related illness, by type of illness, for people working in the last 12 months, 2008/09

Estimated prevalence (thousands) 95% confidence interval

Type of illness 2008/09 prevalence* (thousands)

Central 95% estimate confidence interval lower upper Musculoskeletal disorders 538 501 574

Mainly affecting the back 227 203 251

Mainly affecting the upper limbs or neck 215 192 238

Mainly affecting the lower limbs 96 81 111

Stress, depression or anxiety 415 382 448

Breathing or lung problems 39 29 48

Infectious disease 33 23 42

Total 1182 1126 1237

* for people working in the last 12 months Note: Some types of complaint are not listed (eg heart disease, skin problems) so the estimates do not sum to the total.

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Musculoskeletal disorders

Other diagnoses

Respiratory disease

Audiological disorders

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Skin disease

Mental ill health

Figure 3: Proportion of cases and days lost by diagnosis as reported by General Practitioners for 2006–2008

Diagnoses Certified days lost

2.4%1.7%

3.9%3.7%

0.4%0.3%

10%3%

31%57%

53%35%

Reports of ill health by doctors and specialist physicians

Since 2005 a surveillance scheme has collected reports of ■

new cases of work-related ill health from a sample of around 300 general practitioners (GPs). The data confirms that musculoskeletal disorders are the most common type of work-related illness, but that mental ill health gives rise to more working days lost. According to these data the overall incidence of work-related ill health is roughly 1500 cases per 100 000 workers (similar to the estimate from the LFS – see page 19).Other surveillance schemes collect reports from specialist ■

physicians on specific types of work-related ill health. For example, in 2008 the scheme involving hospital dermatologists recorded over 1200 confirmed cases of work-related dermatitis.

Ill health assessed for industrial injuries disablement benefit (IIDB)

Figures for the last three years show that an average of about ■

5500 cases were assessed for IIDB. The largest categories were vibration white finger, carpal tunnel syndrome and respiratory diseases associated with past exposures to substances such as asbestos and coal dust.

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200

300

400

01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/0696/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01

Number of fatal injuries Rate of fatal injury

Figure 4: Number and rate of fatal injuries to workers

Rate of fatal injury per 100 000 workers

0.00

0.25

0.50

0.75

1.00

1.25

Number of fatal injuries06/07 07/08 08/09p

Employees Self-employed Workers Year Number Rate (a) Number Rate (b) Number Rate (c)

2002/03 183 0.7 44 1.3 227 0.8

2003/04 168 0.7 68 1.8 236 0.8

2004/05 172 0.7 51 1.3 223 0.8

2005/06 164 0.6 53 1.4 217 0.7

2006/07 191 0.7 56 1.4 247 0.8

2007/08 178 0.7 55 1.4 233 0.8

2008/09p 129 0.5 51 1.3 180 0.6

(a) per 100 000 employees (b) per 100 000 self-employed (c) per 100 000 workers

Fatal injuries to workers

There were 180 workers fatally injured in 2008/09 (provisional), ■

equivalent to a rate of 0.6 fatalities per 100 000 workers. The inclusion of the 2008/09 data into the time series below ■

reinforces an underlying downward trend that previously seemed to levelling off. The rate for 2008/09 represents a statistically significant decrease ■

compared to the average rate for the last five years.Of the main industrial sectors, construction and agriculture have ■

the highest rates. These sectors accounted for 53 and 26 fatalities respectively.

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Health and safety statistics highlights 2005Health and safety statistics highlights 2005

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 03/04 04/0502/0301/0200/01

Number of major injuries Rate of major injury

Figure 5: Number and rate of reported major injuries to employees

Rate of reported major injury per 100 000 employees

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Number of reported major injuries

05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09p

Change in recording of reported injuries

Year Employees Self-employed Workers Number Rate (a) Number Rate (b) Number Rate (c) Major injury

2006/07 28 544 108.8 1 194 30.1 29 738 98.4

2007/08 28 199 106.7 1 190 29.5 29 389 96.5

2008/09p 27 594 105.1 1 098 27.3 28 692 94.8

Over-3-day injury

2006/07 114 653 436.8 1 146 28.9 115 799 383.2

2007/08 110 054 416.4 1 121 27.8 111 175 364.9

2008/09p 104 301 397.2 921 22.9 105 222 347.5

(a) per 100 000 employees (b) per 100 000 self-employed (c) per 100 000 workers

Note: See page 25 for definitions of major and over-3-day injuries.

Reported non-fatal injuries

There were 27 594 major injuries to employees reported in ■

2008/09, and the rate of injury was 105.1 per 100 000. Over one third were caused by slipping or tripping.There were 104 301 other injuries to employees causing absence ■

from work of over three days, equivalent to a rate of 397.2. Around two fifths were caused by handling, lifting or carrying, and nearly a quarter due to slipping or tripping.

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Labour Force Survey and reporting of injuries

The rate of reportable injury estimated from the Labour Force ■

Survey (LFS) was 870 per 100 000 workers in 2008/09, statistically significantly lower than in 2007/08.Comparing this with the RIDDOR rate of reported major and over ■

3-day injury, the estimated level of reporting by employers was 58%.

0200

600

1000

1400

1800

1999/00 2003/04 2004/052002/032000/01 2001/02

Rate of non-fatal injury

Figure 6: Rate of reportable non-fatal injury to employees and LFS rate

95% confidence intervalLFS rate of reportable non-fatal injury per 100 000 workers

2005/06 2006/07

Rate of RIDDOR reported non-fatal injury per 100 000 employees

2007/08 2008/09p

of reportable non-fatal injury to workers

RIDDOR-reported injury LFS reportable Estimated rate to employees (a) injury rate to workers (b) percentage of Central 95% confidence interval injuries reported estimate lower upper

2004/05 590 1 200 1 100 1 290 49%

2005/06 565 1 090 990 1 180 52%

2006/07 546 1 000 910 1 090 55%

2007/08 523 1 050 950 1 140 50%

2008/09p 502 870 780 960 58%

(a) per 100 000 employees (b) per 100 000 workers

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10000

15000

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99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 08/09p07/08

Number of enforcement notices

Figure 7: Number of enforcement notices issued by all enforcing authorities

Number of notices issued by local authorities Number of notices issued by HSE*

Enforcement notices

In 2008/09, there were 8054 enforcement notices issued by HSE, ■

compared to 7758 in 2007/08. In addition, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) issued 33 and 21 notices respectively for those years. In 2008/09 local authorities issued 6340 notices, compared to 6010 ■

in 2007/08. This gives a total of 14 427 enforcement notices issued by all ■

enforcing authorities in 2008/09.

Improvement Deferred Immediate Total

2006/07 HSE 5 139 54 3 041 8 234 ORR 26 - 14 40 Local authorities 5 270 50 1 640 6 960 Total 10 435 104 4 695 15 234

2007/08 HSE 4 525 45 3 188 7 758 ORR 15 - 6 21 Local authorities 4 470 60 1 480 6 010 Total 9 010 105 4 674 13 789

2008/09p HSE 4 816 42 3 196 8 054 ORR 30 2 1 33 Local authorities 4 930 40 1 370 6 340 Total 9 776 84 4 567 14 427

* From 2006/07, including ORR notices.

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500

1000

1500

2000

2500

99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 08/09p07/08

Number of offences prosecuted/convictions

Figure 8: Number of offences prosecuted and convictions – HSE

Number of convictionsNumber of offences prosecuted

Offences prosecuted Convictions HSE ORR HSE ORR 2004/05 1 320 - 1 025 -

2005/06 1 056 - 840 -

2006/07 1 041 10 846 6

2007/08 1 060 2 853 2

2008/09p 1 090 14 846 14

*In Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal prosecutes on behalf of HSE; such prosecutions are included in the above figures.

Prosecutions taken by HSE*

In 2008/09, there were 1245 offences prosecuted by HSE and ■

ORR, heard in that year. Of these, 1104 were completed, resulting in 860 convictions (78%). ORR accounted for 14 offences, all resulting in convictions.Offences prosecuted count individual breaches of separate health ■

and safety legislation. A dutyholder may be prosecuted for more than one breach within the same case. In 2008/09, 600 cases led to the 1104 offences with a conviction secured in 548 cases (91%).In 2008/09, convicted organisations received fines totalling ■

£12.4 million, with average penalties of £14 614 per breach and £20 606 per case (figures exclude ORR).


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100

200

300

400

500

600

Number of offences prosecuted/convictions

Figure 9: Number of offences prosecuted/convictions

Number of convictionsNumber of offences prosecuted

99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09

Prosecutions taken by local authorities

Offences prosecuted Convictions

2003/04 410 354

2004/05 332 281

2005/06 257 247

2006/07 340 314

2007/08 354 334

2008/09 329 309

In 2008/09, a total of 329 offences prosecuted (breaches) were ■

heard in that year, resulting in 309 convictions, a rate of 94%. These offences relate to 142 cases, of which 139 (98%) secured ■

a conviction against at least one breach.In 2008/09, those organisations found guilty of health and safety ■

breaches received fines totalling £1.73 million, giving average penalties on conviction of £5607 per breach, which relates to £12 466 per case.

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Ill health, injuries and enforcement by country and region

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Ill health and injuries by industry sector

3050

3400

2050

5690

4910

4190

3760

3580

3640

Figure 10: Estimated incidence rates of self-reported work-related illness and reportable non-fatal injury, by industry, for people working in the last 12 months, average 2006/07–2008/09

01000 10002000 2000 30003000Prevalence rate (per 100 000 working in last 12 months)

InjuryIllness 95% confidence interval

Health/social work (SIC N)

Extraction/utilities (SIC C, E) Injury sample cases too small to provide reliable rates

Injury sample cases too small to provide reliable rates

Public admin (SIC L)

Transport/comms (SIC I)

Education (SIC M)

Manufacturing (SIC D)

Agriculture (SIC A, B)

Finance (SIC J)

Other services (SIC O)

Business (SIC K)

Wholesale/retail (SIC G)

Hotels (SIC H)

All industries*

Construction (SIC F)

Source: Labour Force Survey. Restricted to injuries/ill health in current or most recent job. SIC: Standard Industrial Classification section (see page 26).

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Ill health and injuries by occupation groups

3050

3400

2050

4910

4190

3760

3580

3640

Figure 11: Estimated incidence rates of self-reported work-related illness and reportable non-fatal injury, by occupation, for people working in the last 12 months, average 2006/07–2008/09

01000 10002000 2000 30003000Averaged rate (per 100 000)

InjuryIllness 95% confidence interval

Personal service occupations(SOC 6)

Administrative/secretarial occupations (SOC 4)

Associate professional and technical occupations (SOC 3)

Professional occupations(SOC 2)

Skilled trades occupations(SOC 5)

Sales/customer service occupations (SOC 7)

Process, plant and machine operatives (SOC 8)

Elementary occupations(SOC 9)

Managers/senior officials(SOC 1)

All occupations

Source: Labour Force Survey. Restricted to injuries/ill health in current or most recent job. SOC: Standard Industrial Classification section (see page 26).

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All illnesses Musculoskeletal disorders


Other illnesses

Figure 12: Estimated incidence rates of self-reported work-related illness, for people working in the last 12 months

01/02 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 95% confidence interval

Rate per 100 000

Progress on work-related ill health incidence

The ■ Revitalising Health and Safety target is to reduce the incidence rate of work-related ill health by 20% between 1999/2000 and 2009/10; the pro-rata target for 2008/09 is an 18% reduction.Despite substantial improvements since the base year, progress ■

is probably not on track to meet this Revitalising Health and Safety target.The Departmental Strategic Objective (DSO) includes a target to ■

achieve sustained improvement, since 2008, in the incidence rate of work-related ill health.Although there was a fall in the incidence rate between 2007/08 ■

and 2008/09, this fall was not statistically significant. Hence, the judgment is that there has been no progress towards this DSO.

The incidence rate of self-reported work-related ill health from the ■

Labour Force Survey fell by 17% between 2001/02 and 2008/09, a statistically significant fall. The range of possibilities (95% confidence interval) for this fall was 9% to 25%.The 2008/09 incidence rates for self-reported work-related stress ■

and musculoskeletal disorders were both significantly lower than the rates for 2001/02.


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Trends in the other smaller categories of work-related ill health ■

show a mixed pattern. There are indications of falls in asthma and dermatitis, and a rise in Mesothelioma whilst other categories remain flat.

Estimated incident rate of self-reported work-related illness by type of complaint

Type of complaint Incidence rate per 100 000 employed in the last 12 months

Central estimate 95% confidence interval lower upperAll illnesses

2001/02 2 190 2 070 2 310

2004/05 1 850 1 730 1 960

2008/09 1 810 1 690 1 940


2001/02 750 680 820

2004/05 650 580 710

2008/09 630 560 700


2001/02 890 810 960

2004/05 820 750 900

2008/09 760 680 840

Other illnesses

2001/02 550 490 610

2004/05 380 320 430

2008/09 420 360 480

Source: Labour Force Survey.

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99/0098/9997/9896/97 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 08/09p07/08

Figure 13: Rate of reported fatal and major injury to employees

120

60

Rate of injury

Revitalisingbaseline

Annual rate of reported fatal and major injury, per 100 000 employees Adjusted rateChange in recording of reported injuries

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Research indicates that the rise in major injuries that took place in ■

2003/04 resulted from a change in recording systems. Work has been undertaken to quantify this effect and produce an adjusted time series which is shown on the chart above.After adjusting for the discontinuity, the rate of employee major ■

injury reported under RIDDOR fell by 19% between 1999/2000 and 2008/09. The unadjusted data shows a 10% fall.

Progress on fatal and major injuries

The ■ Revitalising Health and Safety target is to reduce the incidence rate of fatal and major injury by 10% between 1999/2000 and 2009/10; the pro-rata target for 2008/09 is a 9% reduction.Progress is ■ on track to meet this Revitalising Health and Safety target.The Departmental Strategic Objective (DSO) includes a target to ■

achieve sustained improvement, since 2008, in the incidence rate of fatal and major injuries.The judgment is that there has been progress towards this DSO. ■

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The rate of fatal injury to employees has fallen between ■

1999/2000 and 2008/09 although most of this reduction occurred in the earlier part of the period.The rate of RIDDOR reported over-3-day injury which provides ■

supporting evidence, has fallen by around 28% since 1999/2000.Other supporting evidence from the LFS shows a statistically ■

significant fall of 43% in reportable injury since 1999/2000. The range of possibilities for this fall in self reported injury (95% confidence interval) is from 34% to 52%.

Rate of fatal and major injury to employees

Rate of reported injury (per 100 000 employees) Year Fatal injury Major injury Fatal and Adjusted fatal major injury and major injury

1999/00 0.7 116.6 117.3 131.1

2000/01 0.9 110.2 111.1 124.4

2001/02 0.8 110.9 111.7 124.9

2002/03 0.7 111.1 111.8 124.8

2003/04 0.7 120.4 121.1 n/a

2004/05 0.7 117.9 118.6 n/a

2005/06 0.6 110.5 111.1 n/a

2006/07 0.7 108.8 109.5 n/a

2007/08 0.7 106.7 107.4 n/a

2008/09p 0.5 105.1 105.6 n/a

Source: RIDDOR.

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Days lost per worker

Figure 14: Estimated working days lost per worker due to work-related ill health and workplace injuries

Total Days lost due to ill health Days lost due to injury

95% confidence interval

Progress on working days lost

The ■ Revitalising Health and Safety target is to reduce the number of working days lost per worker due to work-related injury and ill health by 30% between 2000–02 and 2009/10; the pro-rata target for 2008/09 is a 27% reduction.The statistical judgement is that progress is ■ probably on track to meet the Revitalising target.

The baseline for the ■ Revitalising target is taken as 2000–02, because comparable data on working days lost, from the LFS, are only available since 2000/01 (for injuries) and 2001/02 (for ill health).Since 2000–02 working days lost per worker has shown a ■

statistically significant fall of 29.5% with a range of possibilities (95% confidence interval) of 20% to 39%. There have been statistically significant falls over the Revitalising ■

period for both injury absence and days lost resulting from work-related illness.

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Type of complaint Days lost (thousands) Days lost per worker* Central 95% Central 95% estimate confidence interval estimate confidence interval lower upper lower upper Due to all ill health and injuries

2000–02 39 817 36 746 42 888 1.76 1.62 1.90

2004/05 35 426 32 528 38 323 1.53 1.41 1.66

2008/09 29 324 26 600 32 100 1.24 1.13 1.36

All illnesses

2001/02 31 752 29 121 34 383 1.40 1.29 1.52

2004/05 28 404 25 722 31 086 1.23 1.11 1.34

2008/09 24 612 22 000 27 200 1.04 0.93 1.15


2001/02 11 810 10 231 13 389 0.52 0.45 0.59

2004/05 11 602 9 761 13 444 0.50 0.42 0.58

2008/09 9 255 7 659 10 851 0.39 0.32 0.46


2001/02 12 919 11 235 14 603 0.57 0.50 0.64

2004/05 12 820 11 100 14 540 0.55 0.48 0.63

2008/09 11 420 9 594 13 246 0.48 0.41 0.56

All injuries

2000/01 8 065 7 037 9 093 0.36 0.31 0.40

2004/05 7 021 6 035 8 008 0.30 0.26 0.35

2008/09 4 711 3 941 5 481 0.20 0.17 0.23

* Combined injury and illness rates differ from the sum of the parts due to rounding.

Estimated number of working days lost due to work-related ill health and workplace injuries

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Sources and definitions

The Labour Force Survey (LFS): A national survey of over 50 000households each quarter which provides information on the UKlabour market. HSE commissions annual questions in the LFS togain a view of work-related illness and workplace injury based onindividuals’ perceptions. The analysis and interpretation of these dataare the sole responsibility of HSE. Further details about the LFS, andmore specifically the HSE commissioned questions, are available fromwww.hse.gov.uk/statistics/lfs/technicalnote.htm.

Self-reported work-related illness (SWI): People who haveconditions which they think have been caused or made worse bytheir current or past work, as estimated from the LFS. ‘Prevalence’estimates include long-standing as well as new cases; ‘incidence’comprises those who first became aware of their illness in the last12 months. HSE has carried out SWI surveys, linked to the LFS,periodically since 1990 and annually since 2003/04.

Reports of ill health by doctors and specialist physicians: Thesereports of work-related ill health are gathered in surveillance schemesrun by the The Health and Occupation Reporting network (THOR andTHOR-GP). Statistical tables covering patients seen by specialists areavailable annually from the early 1990s for work-related respiratorydisorders and skin disease, from 1998 for musculoskeletal disordersand from 1999 for mental ill health. THOR-GP has been fullyestablished for two years and data are available from 2006.

Ill health assessed for disablement benefit (IIDB): New cases ofspecified ‘prescribed diseases’ (with an established occupationalcause) assessed for compensation under the Industrial InjuriesDisablement Benefit scheme. IIDB statistics are available annuallyfrom the 1980s or earlier.

Death certificates: Page 5 refers to deaths from some types ofoccupational lung disease, including the asbestos-related diseasesmesothelioma and asbestosis.

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RIDDOR 95: The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and DangerousOccurrences Regulations 1995, under which fatal and specified non-fatal injuries to workers and members of the public arising from workactivity are reported by employers and others to the relevantenforcing authority. These are HSE, local authorities and the Officeof Rail Regulation (ORR). Prior to 1 April 2006 safety on railwayswas enforced by HSE, and ORR since. The RIDDOR figures includerailways data, provided by ORR, although the breakdown bycountry/region on pages 14–15 excludes railways.

Reported major injuries: Specified serious injuries to workers,including most fractures, amputations and other injuries leadingto resuscitation or 24-hour admittance to hospital.

Reported over-3-day injuries: Other (non-major) injuries to workersthat lead to absence from work, or inability to do their usual job, forover three days.

Reportable injuries from the Labour Force Survey (LFS): Injuriesto workers which meet the criteria to be reportable under RIDDOR,as estimated from the LFS. HSE has placed a set of injury questionson the LFS in 1990 and annually since 1993. LFS injury rates aregenerally presented as three-year averages to provide a more robustseries of estimates.

Level of reporting: Reported non-fatal injury rate (from RIDDOR) asa percentage of the reportable injury rate (from the LFS).

Working days lost: Days off work due to workplace injuries andwork-related ill health, as estimated from the LFS. The figures areexpressed as full-day equivalents, to allow for variation in daily hoursworked, and are available for 2000/01 (injuries), 2001/02 (ill health),and annually (for both injuries and ill health) from 2003/04.

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Revitalising Health and Safety targets: Targets for workplacehealth and safety set by the government and the Health and SafetyCommission in 2000, to achieve specific percentage reductions infatal and major injuries, work-related ill health incidence and workingdays lost by 2010. HSE set out its technical approach to measuringprogress against the three Revitalising targets in a Statistical Notepublished in 2001. This promised an annual report containingjudgements on progress, which is published atwww.hse.gov.uk/statistics/targets.htm.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC): The system used in UKofficial statistics for classifying businesses by the type of activity theyare engaged in. This has been revised several times since firstintroduced in 1948. The version used in these statistics, SIC 2003,made minor revisions to SIC 1992.

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC): The system used in UK official statistics for classifying workers by the type of job they are engaged in. The version used in these statistics is SOC 2000.

Rate per 100 000: The number of injuries or cases of ill health per100 000 employees or workers, either overall or for a particularindustry or area. For reported injuries, the rates use estimates of thenumber of jobs produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).For reportable injuries from the LFS, and ill-health cases from varioussources, the rates are based on LFS employment estimates.

95% confidence intervals: The range of values which we are95% confident contains the true value, in the absence of bias. Thisreflects the potential error that results from surveying a sample ratherthan the entire population. A difference between two estimates is‘statistically significant’ if there is a less than 5% chance that it is dueto sampling error alone.

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Enforcement notices and offences prosecuted: The relevant enforcing authorities are HSE, local authorities and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). Prior to 1 April 2006 safety on railways was enforced by HSE, and ORR since. The numbers of enforcement notices issued, and offences prosecuted, are provided by the relevant enforcing authority.

Enforcement notices cover improvement, prohibition and deferred prohibition. Offences prosecuted refer to individual breaches of health and safety legislation; a prosecution case may include more than one offence. In England and Wales, most prosecutions are taken by HSE, although the Crown Prosecution Service prosecute a small number of health and safety offences on our behalf. In Scotland, prosecutions are taken by the Procurator Fiscal, on the basis of HSE reports. Prosecution statistics allocated against a particular year, unless otherwise stated, relate to the date of final hearing with a known outcome. They exclude those cases not completed, for example adjourned. These statistics do not meet all the criteria to be described as ‘National Statistics’. In particular, responsibility for the release arrangements does not rest with HSE statisticians.

p: Provisional.

n/a: Not available


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Further information

HSE priced and free publications are available by mail order from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA Tel: 01787 881165 Fax: 01787 313995 Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk (HSE priced publications are also available from bookshops and free leaflets can be downloaded from HSE’s website: www.hse.gov.uk.)

For information about health and safety ring HSE’s Infoline Tel: 0845 345 0055 Fax: 0845 408 9566 Textphone: 0845 408 9577 e-mail: [email protected] or write to HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

For further details, visit: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics

© Crown copyright This publication may be freely reproduced, except for advertising, endorsement or commercial purposes. First published 10/09. Please acknowledge the source as HSE.

MISC896 07/10 C90

Printed and published by the Health and Safety Executive