Figures released by the Health and safety executive show that in 2009, 1.2 million workers believed they suffered an illness or condition caused by an accident at work. Overall 4.7 million working days were lost to the UK industry in 2009 as a result of workers suffering the after effects of an accident at work. The health and safety executive also reported that 180 workers were killed at work during the period of 2009.

The accident at work figures are expected to change, should the review recommended by David Cameron go ahead. A review of health and safety law and practice will be carried out by Lord Young, with the full support of the HSE.

Judith Hackett has given her full support to Lord Young in a letter published on the HSE website.

“We in HSE have said for some time that health and safety is being used by too many as a convenient excuse to hide behind.”

Rumours running rife about health and safety has led the HSE to publish a monthly myth buster on their website. This section aims to clarify which decisions have been recommended by the HSE and which decisions are simply employers decisions that are likely to be very unpopular with staff.

The review has been recommended by David Cameron in an aim to get back to common sense in the workplace. The HSE claims that too many decisions made by employers are blamed on health and safety, when in fact the HSE has never made any relevant decision.

Whilst every employer waits for the results of the review, many are also focusing on the accident at work figures and whether the results of the review will see an increase or decrease in the already high existing figures.