NEWS RELEASE
8 November 2005 For immediate release
Scottish TUC Condemns New HSE Scottish Workplace Fatality Statistics
Statistics released today by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) reveal a dramatic increase in the number of reported fatalities occurring in the Scottish workplace. The number of fatalities in Scotland rose from 15 in 2003/4 to 36 in 2004/5, an increase of 140%.
STUC Assistant Secretary, Dave Moxham, said, "This tragic rise in workplace fatalities is unacceptable. Every worker and their family should have the right to expect to return safely home at the end of the working day and not be at risk from their employers' negligence."
"It is a matter of national shame and concern that Scotland now has the highest workplace fatality rate of any British reporting region. This isn't a one- year statistical blip. From 2001 to 2005 the number of fatal injuries to workers in Scotland increased by 29% compared to a decrease of 12% in Great Britain for the same period."
"The tragedy of the ICL/Stockline fatalities and the support the STUC has provided for affected workers and families has reminded us all of the terrible personal consequences of workplace fatalities."
The figures for Major Injuries to Scottish workers provide little evidence of improvement Dave Moxham said, "There is little evidence that accidents that could lead to injuries so severe that the workers can no longer remain in employment are reducing. With a figure of just under 3,000 major injuries each year since 2003 the STUC must question whether the current HSE strategy based on prioritisation is working. The STUC will now be reviewing our continuing support for the revitalising strategy as we are now 5 years into a ten-year plan with no evidence of sustainable improvement."
Referring to the 8% drop in injuries resulting in absences of three days or more Moxham said, "This small drop in injuries is welcome but it is still far from satisfactory that 120,000 injuries occur each year which result in a prolonged absence from work and that Scottish workers are being exposed to unnecessary risk to such a degree."
On the issue of reporting levels Scotland yet again tops the GB table as the worst area with an estimated 60% of reportable accidents going unreported. Commenting on this figure Dave Moxham said, "With this pattern of non