10.02.2007

HSE is a dangerous place to work

We all know about the valuable work that the UK’s Health & Safety Executive does to reduce accidents and mishaps on the nation’s construction sites, even though some might claim that its edicts and inspections can be a little on the zealous side. However, a recent report released to the Times newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act sheds a little light on why the executive is so keen on implementing safety measures. It would appear that the government agency is quite a dangerous place to work.
Please register to see all images

The Times newspaper takes up the story: “Amongst the accidents and disasters that have befallen the agency are reports of falling lavatory-roll dispensers, flea bites and ill-fitting safety shoes. These were just some of the incidents suffered by the agency’s 3,500 employees. One minor injury was also reported after someone walked into a warning sign.

According to data released to The Times under the Freedom of Information Act, there were more than 500 accidents and injuries in a 3½ year period. The rate equates to one incident almost every two working days and far exceeds sectors such as heavy industry, farming and vehicle repairs.

Inspectors were injured 96 times between April 2003 and September last year. There were a further 415 injuries on the executive’s premises, 72 of which were to visitors.

There were 154 slips, trips or falls. A wet tea-room floor was responsible for one employee suffering a groin strain and another slipped on a plastic bag and pulled a hamstring. Other examples included slipping on a raisin and tripping over a bin. One employee bruised her eye when a lavatory-roll dispenser fell from the wall. Inspectors were also physically or verbally assaulted nine times.

Of the injuries, 42 were reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (Riddor) and 47 incidents were recorded as being at least a three-day injury. Across all British workplaces, a total of 146,076 injuries were reported under Riddor in 2005-06, equivalent to 562.4 per 100,000 employees.

Data for workplace accidents show a rate of 4,143 per 100,000 people for the HSE over 2005-06. This compares with 2,143 per 100,000 across all companies in the process, plant and machine operatives sector, widely considered one of the most dangerous sectors. Skilled trade occupations, which includes farmers and mechanics, had 1,012 per 100,000.

An HSE spokesman conceded that the incident rate was high but said that it strived to set high standards in the reporting of mishaps. “It would be unreasonable to expect that an organisation that employs more than 3,500 people would suffer no injuries,” he said. “We endeavour to be an exemplar and as such HSE’s level of reporting is very high. When compared against averages for companies with our type of risk the incident rates and rates for reportable injuries are low.”

Details of the catalogue of misfortune have emerged days after one health and safety inspector was banned from driving for six months for irresponsible behaviour in a car. The man, who claimed to be running late for a first-aid course, was caught shaving as he passed a police car at 70 mph.

Among the accidents and injuries reported in the HSE offices between April and September last year were:

• Had to swerve and stop while driving to avoid a vehicle — whiplash injury

• Opening door of minibus when foot went off edge of kerb — twisted ankle

•Scalded hand with hot water from water boiler

• Pressure washer connection became loose allowing jets of hot water to escape on to lower arm

• Laceration to finger after catching it on metal hook on file

• Colleague opened door which knocked into IP and caught her back

• Emptying bin when hand was cut by broken glasspaper cut

• Burnt hand on hot rack of toaster

• Tried to step over spill on floor but slipped in the process

• Walked into warning sign — laceration to skull and damage to spectacles

• Hit by falling box from the top shelf of mobile racking unit

• Accidentally touched bulb while switching lamp off — small burn to thumb

• Jarred wrist and arm trying to open door, which was stiffer than usual