On reading, the four topic update summed up for me the extent to which health and safety can touch our working lives and diverse nature of the subjects covered under that one banner.
While not going into the details of each (for those you can use the link below), the four topics were:
- Risk of exposure to biological agents;
- Health and safety statistics 2024;
- Vehicle and transport safety at work; and
- Managing drug and alcohol misuse in your workplace.
As the content provided by point 2 above identifies the “UK consistently has one of the lowest rates of fatal injury across Europe” – as well as Worldwide – as we do for non-fatal injuries and ill health.
This doesn’t happen by accident and while we should take some pride in being a safe place to work, we must also recognise that in 2023/2024:
- 138 workers killed in work-related accidents;
- 604,000 working people sustained an injury at work; and
- 1.7 million working people suffering from a work-related illness.
These also provide a backdrop for my opening comments on how broad the topic can be and so the range of risk involved. Exposure to biological agents in the workplace is very specific and no doubt well recognised by those working in that sector, vehicle and transport safety on the other hand, pretty much covers us all. Having a clear register of risks for your business and understanding them is the basis.
In summary, where the legal and financial risks of poor health and safety always make the headlines, we must not forget the moral and reputational benefits well managed health and safety can deliver. Knowing where you need to be focussed to best effect for you and your people means we can keep delivering world class safety, whatever the risks.
The link to the HSE bulletin is - Health and safety updates: the latest news and information