§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information she has available about accident and injury rates in the deep mining industry broken down into those directly employed by British Coal and those employed by sub-contractors; if she will arrange to collect information on accident and injury rates which will allow comparison to be made of the relative safety of employees in the industry on an up-to-date basis; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe following information has been supplied to the Health and Safety Executive by the British Coal Corporation for the year 1991–92.
Accident rate per 100,000 manshifts British Coal "Men on Colliery Books" Contractors Fatal injuries 0.07 0.06 Major injuries 2.60 5.62 Plus 3 day injuries 18.52 23.23 Contractors normally work in the higher risk areas of the mine. A comparison between underground workers employed by British Coal Corporation and contractors' employees in similar occupations shows a major injury accident rate per 100,000 manshifts of 5.83 for contractors and 5.71 for BCC employees.
The Health and Safety Executive will continue to collect or receive information which will allow the effective direction of resources to safeguard the health and safety of all workers in the mining industry.