The government has welcomed the announcement of improvements in the UK’s health and safety record, but warned that there remains no room for complacency.
Statistics published today by the Health and Safety Commission show the number of working days lost due to work-related injury and ill health fell to 30 million in 2005-06, down from 40 million in 2000-02.
Fatal and major injuries also fell in 2005-06 to fewer than 30,000, a drop of 6% on the previous year.
Health and safety minister Lord Hunt said: “I am encouraged by the progress made in the ill health, injuries and days lost figures, which suggest that the approach set out in the Health and Safety Commission strategy for workplace health and safety to 2010 and beyond is beginning to bear fruit.
“However, there is no room for complacency. Each case of ill-health and injury at work causes distress and hardship for individuals and their families, and 30 million working days lost is still a huge burden on the overall economy. The financial costs to society of work-related stress alone are estimated at £3.8bn a year.”
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