injury kinds - Health and Safety Executive

Health and Safety
Executive
Kinds of accident in Great Britain, 2014
Contents
Summary
2
Injury severity
3
Fatal injuries to workers
3
Non-fatal injuries to employees
4
Major/specified injuries to employees (RIDDOR)
4
Over-seven-day injuries to employees (RIDDOR)
5
Labour Force Survey (LFS)
5
Appendix
6
Links to data sources and tables
8
National Statistics
9
This document is available from www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/
Page 1 of 9
Summary
The information in this document relates to Health and Safety Statistics for 2013/14. It can be found at:
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/kinds-of-accident.pdf.
This document gives an overview of the kinds of injuries to employees that were reported to all RIDDOR
enforcing authorities in 2013/14 provisional (p).
The “kind” is a broad description of how the accident happened. Particular kinds tend to be associated with
different levels of injury severity, with limited year-to-year change in the proportions of each kind although
reporting requirements have had an impact.
In 2013/14p:

over half the fatal injuries to workers were of three kinds: falls from height; contact with moving
machinery; and being struck by a vehicle (RIDDOR);

falls and slips & trips, combined, account for over a third (35%) of employee injuries. They made up more
than half of all reported major/specified injuries and almost three in ten (29%) over-seven-day injuries to
employees (RIDDOR);

handling was the most frequent cause of over-seven-day injury (RIDDOR);

an estimated 1.9 million working days were lost due to handling injuries and slips & trips (LFS).
2013/14p statistics for injury kinds are available on www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/ridkind1.xls (RIDDOR)
More detailed statistics for the top kinds of reportable injuries to employees are available for:

Handling 1 - www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/handling-injuries.pdf

Slips, trips and falls - www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/slips-trips-and-falls.pdf

Vehicles - www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/moving-vehicles.pdf

Workplace transport (finalised for 2010/11) - www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/workplace-transport.pdf
1
See also Handling (finalised for 2010/11) – www.hse.go.uk/statistics/causinj/handlinginjuries-2006-7to2010-11.pdf
This document is available from www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/
Page 2 of 9
Injury severity 2
Particular injury kinds are associated with different levels of severity of injury, with little year-to-year change
in the proportions. However, with a change from over-three-day to over-seven-day reporting in 2012/13,
slipping and tripping injuries have become the most common kind of reported injury. This reflects the
reduction in reported lost time injuries (which are predominantly handling).
Figure 1 shows the proportion of injuries reported for the main kinds for each level of injury severity.
Figure 1 Kind of employee injury by kind and severity, 2013/14p
Fatal injuries to workers 3
In 2013/14:

falls from height accounted for nearly three in ten fatal injuries to workers;

almost half of fatal falls took place in construction (19 out of 39 fatal fall injuries);

agriculture and construction had the most deaths to self-employed people and almost half of these were
due to a fall from height (6 out of 17 in agriculture; 8 out of 14 in construction).
Figure 2 Kinds of fatal injuries to workers, RIDDOR 2013/14p
2
In 2011/12, the RIDDOR reporting system changed. There were also changes to what injuries had to be reported in 2012/13 (over-3 to over-7-day
absence) and mid-way through 2013/14 (from major to specified injuries) The system changes affected the way that incidents were coded by
reporters, for example the kind is coded as “other” much more frequently. (www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/sources.htm#riddor provides further
explanation).
3
Workers = employees plus self-employed people. Non-fatal RIDDOR injury statistics normally exclude the self-employed because of low reporting
levels.
This document is available from www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/
Page 3 of 9
Non-fatal injuries to employees
In 2013/14p:

there were around three times as many over-seven-day injuries as major/specified injuries (58 716 overseven-day and18 877 major/specified) 4 ;

more than half of non-fatal injuries to employees involved handling or slips & trips – these injury kinds
rarely result in fatalities;

a new RIDDOR reporting system 5 was introduced in September 2011. One effect of the change on the
statistics has been an increase in the number of injuries classed as unknown or other kind. These made
up 13% of all injuries in 2013/14p, compared to about 4% in the four years before the change
(www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/ridkind1.xls);

handling is the biggest category of over-seven-day injuries (16 923 out of 58 716). However, more injuries
have been reported in “unknown” or “other kind” categories since the RIDDOR system changes, so
handling is no longer the biggest category for all reported injuries.
Major/specified injuries to employees (RIDDOR)
In 2013/14p:

more than half of reported major/specified injuries were caused by slips, trips and falls from height
(RIDDOR 7 742 slips & trips and 2 895 falls out of 18 877) - a rate of 41.8 major/specified injuries due to
slips, trips and falls per 100 000 employees;

human health & social care was the sector with most major/specified due to slips & trips (1 264);

construction accounted for a fifth of all major/specified fall injuries to employees (581);

about one in ten major/specified injuries were caused by being struck by a moving object (1 877)
Figure 3Major/specified injuries to employees by kind – 2013/14p (RIDDOR)
Number of reported injuries

Manufacturing had the highest numbers of injuries due to being struck by a moving object (404) and to
lifting, handling & carrying (356).

Nearly twice as many men as women suffered an injury (12 232 injuries to males and 6 644 to females).
However, women had slightly more slips & trips. (3 945 injuries to females compared to 3 797 males).
There are roughly the same number of men and women in the workforce.
4
It is estimated that around half of non-fatal injuries are reported. The reporting level varies by industry. See LFS table
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/repind1_3yr.xls.
5
More detail can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/sources.htm#riddor
This document is available from www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/
Page 4 of 9
Over-seven-day injuries to employees (RIDDOR)
In 2013/14p:

there were 58 716 reported over-seven-day injuries - three times as many as major/specified injuries;

handling accounted for nearly three in ten over-seven-day injuries (16 923), almost a further quarter were
due to slips & trips (13 841);

handling and slips & trips were the top two distinct 6 kinds across almost all industries;

three industry sectors account for 30% of employment, but for more than half of reported over-seven-day
injuries – these sectors are health & social care (11 238), manufacturing (10 436) and transport & storage
(8 483);

physical assault was the second highest reported injury kind in health & social care and the third highest
reported injury kind in public administration & defence, representing around one in five over-seven-day
injuries in each of these sectors;

almost one in eight over-7-day injuries were classified as being of “another kind”(8 322).
Figure 4 Kinds of over-seven-day injuries to employees – 2013/14p (RIDDOR)
Labour Force Survey (LFS)
The LFS is an additional source of kind of accident information. Whilst it does not have the level of detail as
employer reports (RIDDOR), it does help provide a top-level picture on the time off work as a consequence
of the kind of accident.
In the latest Labour Force Survey results (3 year average – 2011/12 to 2013/14) an estimated:

55 000 new cases of slipping and tripping injuries led to workers being away from work for more than
three days - an estimated rate of about 190 injuries per 100 000 workers for all industries.
(See www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/lfs/injkind1_3yr.xls LFS)

54 000 new cases of handling, injury led to workers being away from work for more than three days - an
estimated rate of about 187 per 100 000 workers.
(See www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/lfs/injkind1_3yr.xls, LFS)

1.9 million working days were lost due to handling injuries and slips & trips in 2013/14
(LFS www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/lfs/injkind2.xls).
6
i.e. not reported as “other" or “unknown” kind
This document is available from www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/
Page 5 of 9
Appendix
Injury kind classifications, RIDDOR (2013/14) and LFS.
Code
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Description of injury kind
Contact with machinery
Struck by moving object
Struck by moving vehicle
Struck against
Lifting and handling injuries
Slip, trip, fall same level
Fall from height
Trapped by something collapsing
Drowned or asphyxiated
Exposure to harmful substance
Exposed to fire
Exposed to explosion
Contact with electricity
Injured by an animal
Physical assault
Another kind of accident
This is a shortened version of the RIDDOR kind codes used from April 2001/02 to September 2011.
New
group
16
1
2
Code
10
110
210
2
2
220
230
2
240
2
250
2
260
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
270
280
290
310
320
330
340
390
410
420
430
480
490
Full description of injury kind
No information on kind of accident.
Contact with moving machinery or material being machined.
Hit by object(s) free falling from structures e.g. buildings, ladders, mine shaft.
Hit by object(s) free falling from lifting machinery, vehicles and other equipment. Include
components of machinery which may fall but still attached.
Hit by objects or material ejected whilst using machinery or hand tools.
Hit by material under pressure during normal operation of machinery or other
equipment.
Hit by objects or material following an explosion or implosion of pressurized equipment
e.g. tyres, jars.
Hit by hand tools in use. (Count here injuries where people strike themselves against
hand tools).
Accidentally hit by another person e.g. hit by another person who tripped or fell onto
them.
Hit by a moving, flying or falling object in another way not specified above.
Hit by a moving, flying or falling object - unknown way.
Hit by a vehicle moving forward.
Hit by a reversing vehicle.
Overturning vehicle where overturn is injury causing factor.
Hit by a runaway vehicle not driven
Hit by a moving vehicle - unknown way.
Walk into or strike (arm etc.) against structure, machinery, stored goods etc.
Hit against part of vehicle whilst travelling in it.
Step onto small items on the ground (nails etc.).
Hit something fixed or stationary in another way not specified above.
Hit something fixed or stationary - unknown way.
This document is available from www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/
Page 6 of 9
New
group
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
Code
510
520
530
540
550
560
570
580
590
610
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
620
630
640
680
690
710
720
790
810
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
910
920
930
940
950
980
990
10
1010
10
1020
10
10
1030
1040
10
10
10
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
1050
1060
1080
1090
1110
1210
1310
1410
1510
1610
Full description of injury kind
Injured through cuts from sharp/coarse material or equipment or from trapped fingers.
Injury through sprains/strains from body movement whether or not a load is involved.
Injured while manually handling or supporting a person.
Injured while handling/transferring a person using people handling equipment.
Injury through lifting or putting down loads.
Injury through pushing/pulling loads.
Injury through carrying loads.
Injured while handling, lifting or carrying in another way not specified above.
Injured while handling, lifting or carrying - unknown way.
Slipped on wet surface (water and other liquids) or other substance (grease, oil, food).
Slipped on dry surface (ceramic tiles, polished floors, smooth surface) or dry
products/item on the surface.
Tripped over obstruction (furniture, small items, work materials, boxes, waste).
Tripped over uneven floor surface (cavity, channel, drain, manhole).
Slipped, tripped or fell on the same level in another way not specified above.
Slipped, tripped or fell on the same level - unknown way.
Fall from a height, over 2 metres.
Fall from a height, up to and including 2 metres.
Fall from a height - unspecified distance.
Trapped by something collapsing or overturning.
Drowning or near drowning in water e.g. swimming pools, bath, lake, river, quarry
lagoon, sub-sea.
Drowning in other liquids e.g. in containers, vessels, tanks, slurry pit.
Asphyxiation or near asphyxiation due to engulfment in material e.g. in silos, towers.
Asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen in confined area
Asphyxiation due to choking.
Drowning or asphyxiation in another way not specified above
Drowning or asphyxiation - unknown way.
Exposed to, or contact with, a harmful substance during handling, dispensing, filling,
mixing.
Exposed to, or contact with, harmful substance due to failure, leak or burst from
equipment or machines, or other unplanned release.
Exposed to, or contact with, harmful substance during normal operation with no fault of
equipment/machine or vehicle. (Not accidentally released).
Exposed to, or contact with, hot/cold objects/liquids/material (scalds).
Exposed to, or contact with, infectious substances, pathogens or biological material,
including bacteria and cultured viruses, in blood or blood products, body fluids.
Exposed to high/low ambient temperature in atmosphere.
Exposed to, or contact with, a harmful substance in another way not specified above.
Exposed to, or contact with, a harmful substance - unknown way.
Exposed to fire or fumes from uncontrolled fire.
Exposed to an explosion from igniting materials.
Contact with electricity or electrical discharge.
Injured by an animal.
Physically assaulted by a person.
Other known kind of accident not listed above.
This document is available from www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/
Page 7 of 9
Links to data sources and tables
Data Sources
Web Address (URL)
Labour Force Survey
(LFS)
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/sources.htm#lfs
RIDDOR (The Reporting
Of Injuries, Diseases and
Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations)
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/sources.htm#riddor
Tables
Web Address (URL)
RIDKIND1
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/ridkind1.xls
RIDKIND2
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/ridkind2.xls
RIDKIND3
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/ridkind3.xls
INJKIND1
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/lfs/injkind1.xls
INJKIND1_3YR
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/lfs/injkind1_3yr.xls
INJKIND2
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/lfs/injkind2.xls
Kinds of injury
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/kinds-of-accident.htm
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/kinds-of-accident.pdf
Slips trips and falls
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/slips-trips-and-falls.pdf
Vehicle injuries
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/moving-vehicles.pdf
Handling injuries
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/handling-injuries.pdf
Handling injuries (finalised
for 2010/11)
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/handlinginjuries-2006-07to2010-11.pdf
Workplace transport
injuries (finalised for
2010/11)
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/workplace-transport.pdf
Other tables
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/index.htm
This document is available from www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/
Page 8 of 9
National Statistics
National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of
Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They
are produced free from any political interference.
An account of how the figures are used for statistical purposes can be found at
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/sources.htm.
For information regarding the quality guidelines used for statistics within HSE see
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/about/quality-guidelines.htm.
A revisions policy and log can be seen at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/about/revisions/
Additional data tables can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/.
Statistician:
Stephen Wright
Contact:
[email protected]
Last Update:
October 2014
Next Update:
October 2015
© Crown copyright If you wish to reuse this information visit www.hse.gov.uk/copyright.htm for details.
First published 10/14.
Published by the Health and Safety Executive
V1
10/14

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