Work injury news
12/06/2009

Business urged to sign up for new health and safety strategy

A new Health and Safety Executive (HSE) strategy has been launched in the UK to prevent accidents at work, work-related fatalities and other injuries.

Companies across Britain are being urged to join the HSE's 'Be Part of the Solution' campaign by signing a pledge to work towards the strategy.

Committing to make a pledge means UK businesses agree to play their part cutting numbers of work-related deaths, injuries and ill-health.

The HSE wants employers to put health and safety at the centre of their business including realising its importance in these recessionary times and the risks and dangers of complacency.

The HSE strategy is based around a series of goals - set after a recent major consultation with employees, companies, trade unions, industry representatives and government - that strive to improve health and safety performance in the workplace.

HSE chairman Judith Hackitt said, "Good health and safety is good business."

Latest HSE statistics reveal non-fatal employee injuries totalled 136,771 and there were 2,056 mesothelioma deaths during 2007 / 2008.

Accidents at work, workplace injuries and work-related ill health account for about 34million working days lost each year.