No safety inductions for third of UK staff
July 9th 2010
A survey by National Accident Helpline found that over a third of people questioned who suffer work accidents or injuries have not had health and safety inductions.
The telephone survey of 121 claimants found that 42 respondents (35%) had not been given a health and safety induction when they joined their workplace.
Beth Powell, National Accident Helpline consumer director, said:
“This result shows that UK organisations still need to improve the way that they look after their staff’s safety at work and a health and safety induction for all new starters would be a key step towards this.
“More than 15,000 people a year contact National Accident Helpline after work accidents. Many of these would be avoidable with appropriate safety equipment, training and supervision.”
A health and safety induction typically includes information on the organisation’s first aiders, use of equipment and machinery, manual handling and fire exits. These few simple steps could prevent someone being injured.
Data from the Health and Safety Executive shows that 4,711,000 working days were lost in the UK in 2008-09 due to injuries in the workplace. These include 537,000 days lost after being hit by a falling object, 897,000 from a handling or lifting injury and 948,000 slips, trips or falls.
“The Health and Safety Executive and other organisations have plenty of information and advice for employers. Concerns employees may have about losing their job for claiming against their employer should not deter them from seeking advice about claiming if they are injured in a work accident" added Beth Powell.
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