UNITE RESEARCH
At a glance: HSE Investigation levels

Overall investigation levels in 2006/7

- only 10.5% of reported major injuries to workers investigated;
- only 1.2% of reported over-three day injuries investigated;
- only 25% of reported dangerous occurrences investigated (2005/6);
- only 2% of reported injuries to members of the public investigated.

Decline in overall investigation levels between 2001/2 and 2006/7

Major Injuries to Workers

By Sector: In 2006/7 the level of investigation ranged from 24.5% in the Agricultural sector to 5.3% in the services sector. In the construction sector – the sector with the most number of reported deaths - only 14.1% of major injuries were investigated – a reduction from 20% six years earlier

By region: In 2006/7, the level of investigation ranged from 14% in Scotland to 5.3% in London. Six years earlier the levels of investigation were 26% and 9% respectively.

Different kinds of injuries: In 2006/7, the kinds of major injuries that were not being investigated were:
- 62% of all amputations. In 2001/2 it was 45%.
- 70% of all asphyxiations and poisonings.  In 2001/2 it was 46%.
- 78% of all burns. In 2001/2 it was 64%.
- 57% of all electrocutions. In 2001/2 it was 47%.
- 91% of all temporary or permanent blindness. In 2001/2 it was 65%.

In relation to amputations, in 2006/7, the HSE did not investigate:
- 1 amputation of the foot
- 2 amputations of the hand
- 3 amputations of a lower limb
- 10 amputations of toes
- 339 amputations of fingers

Different causes of injury: In 2006/7, the HSE did not investigate:
- 59% of all collapses.  In 2001/2, it was 50%
- 50% of all explosions. In 2001/2, it was 31%
- 56% of all high falls (over two metres) in 2001/2, it was 40%
- 80% of all fires. in 2001/2, it was 47%

Over-Three Day Injuries

By Sector: In 2006/7 the level of investigation ranged from 9.5% in the Mining sector to 0.5% in the services sector. In the construction sector only 1.9% of injuries were investigated – a reduction of 50% from six years earlier.

By region: In 2006/7, the level of investigation ranged from 3.1% in Scotland to 0.5% in London. Six years earlier the levels of investigation were 7.6% and 1.4% respectively.

Dangerous Occurrences

By Sector: In 2005/6 the level of investigation ranged from 64% in the Mining sector to 7% in the energy sector. In the construction sector only 23% of dangerous occurrences were investigated.

By region: In 2005/6, the level of investigation ranged from 50% in Scotland to 6% in London. Scotland’s figures represent an increase from 40% six years earlier and in London it represents a decline from 18%.

Major Injuries to the Public

By Sector: In 2006/7 the level of investigation ranged from 24% in the Manufacturing  sector to 1.6% in the services sector. In the service sector (which accounted in 2006/7 for 97% of all reported injuries to the public) the level of investigation declined by 75% from 6.2% in 2001/2.

By region: In 2006/7, the level of investigation ranged from 2.8% in Scotland to 1.2% in London. Six years earlier the levels of investigation were 18.5% and 2.7% respectively. In Scotland this was a decline of 85% in the six-year period.

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The Centre for Corporate Accountability is a human rights charity advising those bereaved from work-related deaths, and working on issues of safety, law enforcement and corporate accountability.

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