HC Deb 27 October 1997 vol 299 cc716-7W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to reduce the number of deaths and serious accidents at work; and if he will make a statement on the factors underlying recent increases in work-related casualties. [12479]

Angela Eagle

The Government share concern about the recent increase in workplace accidents. The reasons for the increase are not straightforward and the Health and Safety Commission is conducting further analysis to identify the main causes and influences. The HSC's plan of work for 1997–98 sets out what the Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive are doing to promote health and safety. But the main responsibility lies with employers and others in industry—they have a legal obligation to manage health and safety properly and they need to do better.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) employees and (b) self-employed people (i) were killed or (ii) received major injuries at the workplace in each year since 1993. [12809]

Angela Eagle

The table shows the total number of fatal and major injuries to employees and self employed people reported to enforcing authorities between 1992–93 and 1996–97—years commencing 1 April.

Year Employees Self-employed
Fatal injuries
1992–93 276 63
1993–94 245 51
1994–95 191 81
1995–96 209 49
1996–971 210 77
Major injuries
1992–93 16,938 1,115
1993–94 16,705 1,274
1994–95 17,041 1,313
1995–96 16,568 1,166
1996–971 227,360 21,311
1 Provisional. Finalised figures will be available in April 1998.
2 Definition of major injury extended when The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 came into force on 1 April 1996.