Waste sector deaths doubled in 2012/13

Ten workers and three members of the public suffered fatal injuries in the waste and recycling sector in 2012/13, almost double the number of fatalities from the year before (seven), new figures have shown.

According to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) provisional ‘Statistics on fatal injuries in the workplace 2012/13’, the increasing amount of fatal injuries saw the death rate for the waste and recycling industry rise from the five-year average of 4.7 (per 100,000 employees) to 8.2.

HSE has said that the increasing in the number of workers killed last year in the waste and recycling industry is “extremely disappointing” and “should spur on the industry to make a concerted effort to bring about sustained improved performance”.

Speaking of the figures, Graeme Walker, HSE’s Waste and Recycling Lead, said: “The increase in workers killed last year is both disappointing and worrying as it represents a more than doubling of lives lost from the previous year. 

“Although it is fair to say the number of deaths has fluctuated greatly year on year over the last five years, the industry needs to make a concerted effort to end that cycle of yearly variations and bring about sustained improved performance year on year. 

Number of fatalities in UK falling

Indeed, the waste and recycling industry’s performance compared to other industry sectors is noted as 'poor', as the number of fatalities across the UK as a whole has gone down. Overall, 148 workers suffered fatal injuries at the work place in 2012/13, down from 172 in the previous year. However, HSE adds that these figures are provisional and, as such, are subject to change.

The report reads: ‘The 147 deaths in 2009/10 represented the lowest number on record, and taking employment levels into account gave a rate of 0.50 per 100,000 workers. The 2012/13 figure of 148 fatalities is very similar… It should be noted that 2012/13 is provisional and, based on experience of previous years, could increase or decrease slightly on finalisation next year.’

Speaking of the figures as a whole, HSE Chair Judith Hackitt, said: "These figures… are a reminder to us all of why health and safety is so important. Although the number of people killed at work has dropped significantly, last year 148 people failed to return home to their loved ones. 

"The fact that Britain continues to have one of the lowest levels of workplace fatalities in Europe will be of little consolation to those who lose family members, friends and work colleagues. 

"HSE is striving to make health and safety simpler and clearer for people to understand so that more people do what is required to manage the real risks that cause death and serious injury. 

"We all have a part to play to ensure people come home safe at the end of the working day and good leadership, employee engagement and effective risk-management are key to achieving this." 

Waste and recycling sector ‘one of Britain’s most dangerous’

The figures come just weeks after HSE published a ‘five prong-plan’ aimed at driving down the number of people killed and seriously injured in the waste and recycling industry.

According to HSE between 2004/05 and 2011/12, 97 workers and 19 members of the public were fatally injured, and 3,722 employees suffered ‘major injuries’, making the waste and recycling industry ‘one of Britain’s most dangerous sectors’.  

The ‘Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) blueprint 2012-15’, published on 7 June, outlines 24 ‘immediate action points’ that need to be taken to provide clearer training and safer workplaces. 

Key initiatives listed in the blueprint include:  

• producing agreed safety leadership standards for the waste management industry and guidance on ‘what safety leadership looks like and how it is demonstrated’;
• developing sharable training materials for promoting and enhancing worker engagement
• publishing case studies and real life examples of ‘the positive impact of improved workforce competence, including examples of industry best practice and the potential business benefits’; and
• developing guidance and support on health surveillance (monitoring/screening).  

Speaking of the blueprint, Walker said: "HSE is committed to continuing to work with all parts of the industry to drive down the number of lives lost, notably supporting the Waste Industry Health and Safety (WISH) Forum in delivering its WISH Blueprint of actions launched [last month]. Long-term sustainable improvements rely on strong industry leadership and that is what is needed.

"The industry is diverse and multi-faceted with many different challenges and issues. There is no magic bullet hence our multi-pronged strategy and a range of different interventions. The industry itself needs to step up to plate. The WISH Blueprint provides a practical and positive framework for future work."

Figures from across the industry are now being recruited to chair sub-groups to drive forward implementation of the plan, which will be updated ‘regularly’.  

Read HSE’s provisional ‘Statistics on fatal injuries in the workplace 2012/13’ or its ‘Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) blueprint 2012-15’.