Improvements in work safety

Date published: 09 November 2009

The North West became a healthier and safer place to work last year, according to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures.

Statistics show there has been a reduction in the number of people seriously injured or suffering work related ill-health from April 2008 to March 2009.

There were 3,281 serious workplace injuries recorded in the North West last year compared to 3,387 in 2007/8, although the number of deaths remained the same at 22.

The number of people suffering from work-related illnesses also fell by 16,000 from 138,000 in 2007/8 to 122,000 last year.

David Sowerby, HSE Regional Director for the North West, said: “It’s pleasing to see the figures for injuries and ill health falling but there’s still more to be done.

“There were still hundreds of workplace injuries in the North West last year that could easily have been prevented, and employers need to be doing more to ensure the health and safety of workers.

“Last year we secured convictions for a total of 87 breaches of health and safety law by companies and individuals in the region. We will continue to target those who fail to meet the standards that employees have a right to expect.”

HSE continues to take a tough line with firms in the North West who put workers at risk by breaking safety legislation. It brought 100 offences to court in 2008/9, 87 of which led to conviction.