Work-related illness costs £10billion per year. Frightening statistics on workplace injuries and health have prompted tough Government targets.
Industry must meet half these levels by 2004, reaching the full target by 2010.
First, look at current figures: Every year 25,000 leave the labour market through work-related illness.
Every week 3,000 move from long-term sick leave to incapacity benefit and 90% never go back.
Each year, for every 100,00 workers we see: 119 fatal/major injuries; 1,400 new cases of work- related ill health; 65,000 working days lost through illness; 36,000 working days lost through accident.
So now industry must reach: 30% reduction in days lost from work-related injuries and illness 20% reduction in incidence of work-related ill health.
10% reduction in fatal/ major injuries 20% reduction in ill health in the public caused by work activity 30% reduction in days lost because of work-related ill health.
To meet these targets, HSE will concentrate on factors which contribute disproportionately to accidents and ill health: workplace transport; slips, trips and falls; musculo-skeletal injuries; falls from heights, and stress.
It will adopt a carrot and stick approach, highlighting the benefits of good practice but also stressing the directors' ultimate responsibility and liability. It will be seeking powers to increase fines and penalties and to name and shame companies and individuals found lacking.
Each sector will be encouraged to set its own targets - using its trade organisations such as the TSA.
The first step may be a monitoring scheme based on "Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations" (RIDDOR) to establish basic data.
TSA has already set up such a scheme for the laundry, drycleaning and textile rental sectors.
The result could be to shift responsibility onto the industry which may be forced to become self-monitoring and regulating.
In the future HSE may make many fewer routine inspections, perhaps restricting visits to cases of complaint or reported accidents/incidents.
But the consequences of non-compliance will be harsh. If investigations reveal any negligence both individuals and companies will face very severe penalties.
