A recent survey into occupational injuries and ill health in the food and drink industry has revealed that hundreds of workers in this sector are likely to suffer an over-three-day accident during their working lifetime.
According to the study, which was published by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s (IOSH) Food and Drink Group, there were two deaths, 133 major injuries and 767 over-three-day injuries in the sector in 2011/2012. These findings come from 63 companies, employing almost 85,000 staff, giving a sample size of approximately 17% cent of the food and drink industry workforce.
Slips, trips and falls on the same level were the top cause of major, over-three-day and lost-time accidents, with injured whilst handling, lifting or carrying a close second. Falls from height also accounted for a significant number of these accidents, as did being struck by or against objects.
The reported accident/incident rate for 2011/12 survey is slightly lower than 2010/11, (1066 compared with 1177) reflecting the continuing trend of reducing accident rates in the food and drink industry, says IOSH. This survey will be repeated in a similar format for 2012/13, which will allow more accurate data to be collected and appropriate comparisons to be made.
“The good thing is that the accident frequency rate in the sector is continuing to decrease as a result of the hard work of all involved,” commented IOSH Food and Drink Group chair Jackie Wooldridge. “However, focus on the key risks, such as slips and trips and manual handling, is still required to drive further performance improvements.”
“Furthermore, falls from height continue to cause a considerable amount of life changing injuries, which practitioners should highlight to their management teams and implement the well-known controls to reduce these risks,” she added.
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