How Much Do Work Related Injuries REALLY Cost?

Both the HSE and the TUC have produced figures that demonstrate the cost of work related injuries and ill health. The HSE data showed that the costs to business (from lost production, insurance, compensation payments etc.) were in the order of £5 - 9 billion per year. The TUC calculations built on this figure and included allowances for other factors to show the cost to a family. They reckoned the costs to business would translate into an increase in product costs. Their figure also included factors such as tax payments to cover benefit payments and the cost of NHS treatment, and loss of income not covered by compensation payments. Taking all this into account, they estimate work related accidents and ill health cost £1000 per family per year.

Manual Handling Operations Regulations

Last year the results of an evaluation of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 were published by the Health and Safety Executive. One of the main findings was that nearly 2/3 of organisations had not heard of these Regulations. Of the informed organisations, most had a clear understanding that manual handling involved more than lifting. In terms of assessments, the results suggested that full assessments on individual tasks were being completed where they may not have been strictly necessary. For example, better use could be made of the numerical guidelines to screen out any tasks without a significant risk of injury in which case full assessments are not required. Also, properly organised generic assessments can be beneficial as they require fewer resources to provide adequate information on potential hazards and risk reduction measures.

Procedures and methods

From our experience working with clients (whose manual handling operations have covered baggage and cargo handling at airports, moving vehicle panels in body stamping plants, and other varied handling tasks associated with the manufacture of tyres and assembly of vehicles) we know that different procedures and methods will be necessary. Different organisations and different industries will need their own procedures and methods to ensure that they not only comply with the Regulations, but obtain business benefits from improved health and safety. Indeed, one of the recommendations that emerged from the evaluation of the Regulations was that industry-specific guidelines should be promoted and disseminated more widely.
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