§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the accident rate (a) on the youth training scheme and (b) on all forms of work.
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§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe following table sets out the annual incidence rate for 1984–85 per 100,000 trainees on
Period Average number in training *Accidents Annual incidence rate per 100,000 trainees Fatalities †Major Injuries Minor Injuries Fatalities Major Injuries Minor Injuries 1 April-31 March 1984 282,408 ‡4 184 1,748 1.4 65.2 619.0 Notes * The manpower Services Commission's accident figures for the youth training scheme are compiled on a similar basis to those prepared by the Health and Safety Executive on employed persons. However, the Commission's figures will include a number of accidents, in particular road traffic accidents during scheme time and accidents to trainees in educational establishments, which may not have been reportable to the Health and Safety Executive had the individuals been employed. ‡ Major injuries are classified according to the severity criteria laid down in the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1980. ‡.During the period 1 January to 31 March 1985, one further fatality involving a youngster on the youth training scheme was notified to the Manpower Services Commission. Investigations to determine the exact causes of the incident and whether it would be reportable to the Health and Safety Executive had the youngster been employed are being carried out by the local enforcing authorities. The provisional incidence rate for 1984 for occupational deaths and major injuries to employees reportable to health and safety enforcing authorities is 60.9 per 100,000 employees. An incidence rate relating to minor injuries is not available.
There are difficulties in making direct comparisons between accident figures for the youth training scheme and statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive for the employed population generally. For example, the age mix is very different (the Health and Safety Executive does not publish separate accident figures for the 16–18 age group), and, in addition, the industry mix and time spent at the workplace may also differ.