Each year the Health and Safety Executive release their annual statistics report. Summarised below are some of the key findings from this year’s report:

• In 2016/17 there were 137 fatal injuries involving workers and 92 members of the public were killed due to work related activities
• Non-fatal workplace injuries cost the British economy £5.3 billion
• 31.2 million working days were lost due to work related ill-health and non-fatal injuries
• There were 516,000 new cases of work related ill-health
• There were 236,000 new cases of work related stress, depression or anxiety, with 12.5 million working days lost
• There were 70,116 non-fatal injuries reported under The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
• The number of notices served rose to 11,913
• £69.9 million in fines were imposed after HSE and COPFS (Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scotland) prosecutions.

James Lowe, Regulatory and Licensing Partner at George Green commented that “This is the first full year where the sentencing guidelines have been in effect for health and safety offences.  There has continued to be a notable increase in the level of fines being imposed since the introduction of the guidelines.  This trend will continue and it is advisable for those facing investigations for such alleged breaches to seek early legal advice from a specialist regulatory solicitor”.

Should you have any questions about your legal obligations under Health and Safety legislation, or in the event that you are involved in a HSE prosecution, and need a Health and Safety Solicitor, call James Lowe, our Regulatory and Licensing Partner on 07833 240 400 for advice and assistance.