HC Deb 27 October 1988 vol 139 cc379-80W
Mr. Strang

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the Health and Safety Executive will undertake a survey of exposure levels for coal tar pitch volatiles.

Mr. Nicholls

A survey of exposure levels for coal tar pitch volatiles already forms part of the review of these

Table 1 Fatal Injuries to Employees Reported to All HSC/E Enforcement Authorities1, 1981–1986/87
Standard Industrial Classification (1980) Division Fatal injury incidence rates per 100,000 employees
1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 21986–87
0. Agriculture, Forestry and fishing 8.8 7.8 8.6 8.8 6.1 8.6
1. Energy and Water Supply Industries 7.8 11.4 7.4 7.9 7.5 5.8
2. Extraction of minerals and ores other than fuels; Manufacture of metals, mineral products and chemicals 5.3 6.6 3.8 7.3 5.2 5.5
3. Metal goods, Engineering and Vehicle Industries 1.4 1.9 1.4 2.0 1.9 1.7
4. Other Manufacturing Industries 1.5 1.4 2.3 1.7 1.8 1.4
2–4. Total Manufacturing Industries 2.0 2.4 2.1 2.7 2.4 2.1
5. Construction 9.7 9.7 11.6 9.8 10.8 10.2
6. Distribution, Hotels and Catering; Repairs 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.5
7. Transport and Communication 3.3 3.7 3.0 3.3 3.6 2.6
8. Banking, Finance, Insurance, Business Services and Leasing — 0.2 — — 0.1 0.4
9. Other Services 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.3
Total All Industries 2.1 2.3 2.2 2.1 1.9 1.7
1 Based on the number of fatal injuries to employees reported to the Health & Safety Executive or other appropriate enforcing authorities under, and as defined in, the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (NADOR), 1980, for the period 1 January 1981 to 31 March 1986, and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1985 for the year commencing 1 April 1986. Similarly for Table 2 (non-fatal major injuries). From 1981–1985, the rates may include some injuries to the self-employed, and from 1981–1983 to members of the public.
2 In the first quarter of 1986, 98 fatal injuries to employees were reported compared with 402 in the whole of 1985.

substances being undertaken during the current work programme of the advisory committee on toxic substances (ACTS). This committee advises the Health and Safety Commission on methods of controlling health hazards arising from the use of toxic substances at work.