North: Big drop in workplace injuries

The number of workplace injuries in the North has fallen by 20% in the past five years, it was revealed today.

The reduction saw the number of accidents drop from over 4,500 a year to 3,700, said the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland in its annual report.

Chairman, Professor Peter McKie said it was a very significant reduction.

He added: “Whilst one must always remain cautious against reading too much into statistics, I see the continuing downward trend as a clear endorsement of the innovative and challenging approach being adopted by HSENI since its establishment as the regional authority for death and safety in 1999.”

The approach was based on three complementary strands: the provision of advice and assistance; the recognition of good practice and the relentless pursuit of those who blatantly flouted the law.

It had proved a very successful model and one which the body would continue to build on in the future, he said.

Professor McKie said credit had to be paid to the HSENI’s enforcement partner, the District Councils, who had supported the drive to tackle priority issues.

Inspectors from the HSENI carried out almost 6,500 inspection and investigation visits last year, up from 5,000 the year before.

There were just seven prosecutions completed during the year – the same as in the previous 12 months – but the number of enforcement notices served by inspectors requiring corrections to serious health and safety contraventions when up 20% to 346 from 288.

Professor McKie said the statistics demonstrated clearly his organisation would by no stretch of the imagination be described as a ‘toothless watchdog’.

He pledged: “Whilst we will certainly assist and encourage those employers who want to improve their health and safety management, our inspectors will use their considerable enforcement powers whenever appropriate to ensure that others less willing are not allowed to escape their legal duties to protect their workers.”