Accidents at work are showing an encouraging downward trend

The survey factored in results from close to half of all SELECT's 1200 member companies, the joint best returns figure since the start of the recession in 2008, indicating that company focus is returning to vital health and safety issues. Reporting of major injury accidents was changed in 2013 as part of the government's drive to simplify the amount of red tape that companies had to deal with and was replaced by specified injury reporting.

Changes in the size of the workforce represented by responses to the annual surveys will impact on the numbers of accidents reported. Consideration of the rate of injuries per 100.000 workers (the standardised method used across all EU member states), therefore, allows statistical comparisons to be made on a year-to-year basis.

The rate of such injuries fell to 102 in 2014, the second lowest since 2007 and less than half the peak reached in 2008 when the major rate was 243.7. Accounting for over 3-day injuries, that is, injuries which resulted in three or more days off work for the person involved, was changed to over 7-day injury reporting in 2012, to reflect the time periods involved in medical 'fit notes'. The rate of such accidents fell in 2014 to an all time low of 225.4.

Overall, the rate of RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) reportable accidents is down substantially, at 327.4, from its peak of 964.2 in 2008.

Jim Cornwall, Technical and Safety Adviser, SELECT, said: "It is difficult to read concrete conclusions into the latest survey figures, since there have been so many reporting changes in the past few years.

"However, it is encouraging to see the number of companies who are again willingly responding to surveys such as this and the response is a credit to our survey team which compiles the statistics.

"It is reasonable to conclude from the figures, though, that members are aware of the importance of health and safety at work and are cascading the message down to their workforces."

Newell McGuiness, Managing Director, SELECT, said: "SELECT has always been conscious that safety is paramount in the electrotechnical industry and has pioneered new safety methods which are now industry standard.

"It is very gratifying to see the number of accidents at work reducing, but we must always keep at the forefront of our minds that one accident is one too many."