§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many accidents involving three or more days off work due to back strain or injury were recorded in each year from 1979 to the most recent practicable date.
§ Mr. NichollsThe available information is given in the table:
Numbers of reported1 occupational back injuries2 to employees and self employed persons in Great Britain resulting in absence from work for more than three days3 Number 1979 44,012 1980 37,746 1981 74,097 1982 66,634 1983 5 1984 5 1985 5 41986–87 29,635 41987–88 30,002 6 41988–89 29,783 1 Injuries reported to Health and Safety Executive's factory and Agricultural Inspectorates for the years 1981 to 1988–89 and to the factory inspectorate only for 1979 to 1980. 2 Injuries notified under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1980 (NADOR) for 1981 to 1982, and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR) for 1986–87 onwards. Data for the years 1979 to 1980 are based on reports made under various legislation. Because of the changes in reporting arrangements data for these three periods are not directly comparable. 3 Includes non-fatal major injuries as defined under the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations which are assumed to involve absence from work for over three days. Also includes other injuries causing absence from work for more than three days reported directly to enforcing authorities for the years 1979 to 1980 and 1986–87 onwards, and injuries resulting in claims for industrial injury benefit for the years 1981 to 1982. Figures for 1983 to 1985 not available owing to the cessation of industrial injury benefit. 4 Years beginning 1 April. 5 Not available. 6 Provisional.
§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will introduce legislation to remove the discrepancies between maximum weights lifted by agricultural workers and textile workers; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement on the position regarding manual handling guidance notes; when he expects these to be issued by the Health and Safety Executive; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Health and Safety Commission issued a consultative document in October 1988 proposing 577W new regulations and guidance to protect all workers from injury during manual handling of loads. The effect of these proposals would be to remove discrepancies between the treatment of workers in different industries.
Also in that year the Commission of the European Communities published a draft directive to set minimum standards of protection for workers engaged in manual handling. The directive reached common position on 30 October 1989 and adoption is expected during 1990. The consultation on its proposals helped the Health and Safety Commission in formulating a view on the draft directive and it has now incorporated its own work, including the preparation of guidance, into its plans for implementation of the directive which the current draft requires by 31 December 1992.