World Health and Safety Day 2023

Today marks World Health and Safety Day. Every year, there is a different theme to promote this day. This year, the International Labour Organisation has decided the theme will be,

“A safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work”.

What is the need for this day?

There is a day specifically for this to promote the need and desire to raise awareness that until there are no accidents being reported in the workplace, it will always be a pressing issue. It helps raise employee awareness, as well to show them what they are entitled to in the workplace and that they shouldn’t feel that they are not safe and are being protected by their employer.

World Day for Health and Safety at work has many objectives. Some of these include:

• The need to promote a healthy and happy work culture.
• Help to raise the awareness of safe practices within the workplace and how they can adapt these into their everyday life.
• Reducing workplace injuries and mitigating any workplace deaths; and,
• To inhibit occupational accidents and disease spread within workplaces, worldwide.

Work Related Injuries and Deaths within the UK from 2021/2022.

In the UK, work related deaths and injuries are not uncommon. In fact, there are probably more than you would imagine. Below we will go through some key statistics reported to RIDDOR. (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations)

Key statistics from UK health and safety in workplace from 2021-2022.

• There were 123 work related deaths recorded. The below graph will show the injuries by grouping into main industries.

From this graph, the deaths differ in ages. From the 123 people killed:

• • 93 of those people were aged between 16-59
  • 29 of those people were 60 or over
  • There was then 1 person whose age was not known

We then illustrate the causation, where the next graph shows the main kinds of fatal accidents for workers between 2021/2022.

It isn’t always only employees being killed by work related incidents. Unfortunately, there were 80 members of the public who were killed due to accidents that happened at work.

To find out more, follow the link to HSE website.

Statistics – Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain (hse.gov.uk)

Who is responsible for prevention of work-related deaths and injuries?

Employers have a legal obligation under health and safety law to mitigate health and safety risks within their business. They are accountable for safeguarding the wellbeing, safety, and welfare of their staff and anyone else who may be impacted by their work activities. Employers must take practical and reasonable measures to fulfil this responsibility. They can do this by implementing the findings of risk assessments within their business. What are risk assessments?

Risk Assessments

A risk assessment proactively identifies potential hazards and by analysing what the likelihood and severity of harm that could come from the result of a hazard. The aim of a risk assessment is to identify these risks and prioritise them by implementing safety measures that would make sure that they are eliminated or controlled.

Employers are responsible for making sure that these risk assessments are carried out and that they are updated with the changing environments in their workspace. They are legally required to assess the potential hazards of their workplace and take the reasonable and required steps to ensure that their staff are safe whilst working with these potential risks.

Workers are also responsible for their safety in the workplace. This is because they have the right and the authority to report any health and safety issues/ dangerous environments within their workplace to HSE. If they feel as though their employer is not taking the right precautions towards risks and is aware of the dangers that can come from it, it is within the employees right to report it.

Below is a risk assessment matrix template example.

How can we help?

System Certification Services can help your business lower the likelihood and possibility of workplace injuries and deaths happening in your organisation. We can do this by providing ISO 45001 certification which includes operational control audits.

What is ISO 45001?

ISO 45001:2018 is the globally renowned International Standard which details requirements for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems. The standard provides a framework to enable businesses to implement effective arrangements for managing occupational health and safety in a way that is proportionate to the hazards identified and the OH&S risks to be managed.

Implementing ISO45001 should result in an OH&S management system which enables organisations to fulfil its legal requirements and to identify and evaluate their H&S risks, and, with the participation of the workforce, lead to enhanced performance. Improved workplace conditions, reduced risk of injury or illness and a positive H&S culture can lead to improved worker wellbeing as well as an increase in productivity and reduced insurance premiums.

Demonstration of successful implementation of the standard can be used by an organisation to give assurance to workers and other interested parties that an effective OH&S management system is in place.

Benefits of integrating ISO 45001 into your business

A case study published by IOSH (The institute of Occupational Safety & Health) in 2018 focused on a manufacturing and construction organisation, AB Glass based in Swansea, Wales, who were an early adopter of the ISO45001 and their representative stated benefits to include top management commitment at all stages, worker involvement, emphasis on the continual improvement element of the Plan-Do-Check-Act model including review and preventive action, and alignment with their existing 9001 system.