Hundreds of injuries at work reported at Kirklees businesses

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) said a drop in reports nationally is the result of funding cuts and lack of awareness of the duty to report injuries.

In 2019-20, the Health and Safety Executive was notified of 385 non-fatal incidents in the area – seven more than in the previous year.

Of the injuries, which workplaces must report by law, 95 were specified – these include incidents such as serious burns, amputations, loss of sight and fractures other than to fingers and toes. A further 290 resulted in an employee or self-employed person being unable to perform their normal duties for more than seven days.

The figures mean 273 Kirklees workers per 100,000 were injured at work last year, higher than Yorkshire and The Humber’s average rate of 256.

Shelly Asquith, TUC’s health and safety policy officer, said: “A lack of visibility of the HSE – due to funding cuts and a decline in the level of enforcement measures being carried out – means fewer employers are aware of the body.”

Sarah Newton, chairman of the HSE, said: “HSE remains committed to taking action where workers are not protected, to ensure the guidance and assistance we provide for employers in managing risks is the best available, based on the latest evidence and science.

“Although Great Britain continues to be up there with the safest places in the world to work these figures highlight the scale of the challenge HSE currently faces.”